New-York tribune., 1870-08-11
VAR TOPICS.
country.

An English correspondent, describing Metz
as "the grand starting point OF French opera
"tions.r saws that eff the war is to be com
"menced-as / believe it will be cominehceu-
"by panther-like spring, made WIN Cho
"wbole of Frances concentrated military
"strength upon the Prussian right, then inc
"postiop of Metz, both as fortress ana as a
" GRAND factory of warlike material, VIII prove
"as valuable "a though its exact location had
"been determined for the purpose OF opening
"this campaign with clap OF thunder lne
conditions having been materially chahgeu,-
the panther-like spring having been inade oy
Prussia instead of France,-pubhc interest
would have been better satisfied with de-
scription of Metz as defensive fortress rather
than a depot and "grand factory OF Warllke
"material.' War correspondents who specu-
late upon army movements which are 10 DE
made, instead of describing those accomplished,
ought to write two distinct and contradictory
predictions, the prophecy which, comes nearest
realization only to be used.
1t has been apprehended that the most
vulnerable point of Germany was to be found
somewhere ON her North Sea or Baltic coast.
BY late advices it appears that the ports on
pared state. One of our letters on the second
page describes the preparation for the defense
of Hamburg, and concludes that the city Is
unapproachable. We have had dispatches
lately indicating that other ports are as well
protected, and the inactivity of the French
fleets indicate that the vulnerable point, if it
exists. is difficult to find. The Prussian armies
which have been sent to the coasts are for
4 4. ,lNnr, N
soldiers which might effect landing would
find itself desperately resisted in movement
toward Berlin.
While the Emperor Napoleon was probably
right in predicting a "long and arduOus
"war,n the chances are that his share in it
will be brief enough. Nations do not forget
nor forgive such blunders as his first one, and
the dismissal of Marshal and a Minister
will not save His Majesty.
Marshal LebGuf, it seems, was a man after
the Emperor's own heart, for he, too, was
addicted to making absurd speeches. On the
eve of his departure from Paris for the front
he addressed his six private Secretaries, init
mating that on the commission OF the first IN
discretion they would "get bullets in their
"headsr His master was more meTciful than
indiscretion simply dismissed him. But France
is yet to consider the punishment of both
master and Marshal, and it may be bullets
through their heads.
The Empress Eugene, too, has passion
for producing theatrical effects. The Spanish
Minister, admitted to see her just before the
departure of the Emperor from Paris, found
her packing the valises of the Prince Imperial.
You see" she said, in the most patriotic
way, 81 am doing what all mothers do" Was
it to be expected that such woman as this
should have the discretion and good sense to
keep from the public the ridiculous story of
the baptism of tireW
Paris believed, when our correspondent
wrote last, that Provost -Paradol had committed
suicide in despair at his mistake in taking
Office under the Empire and Napoleon; and by
his rash act he is said "to have risen in
public esteem" Perhaps Olivier, GramOnt,
and the rest will take the same means of re-
storing their lost regulations.
The destruction of the railway yiaduCt at
Bitche, short time before the advance move
ment of the Prussians, was looked upon as an
enterprising expedition but minor affair Its
real Importance has been developed by later
events, and the detailed account of it now pub
lished in our war correspondence on the second
page will be read with interest. The purpose
of the expedition-made evident by later move
ments-was the separation of MacMahon's corps
from the rest of the French army, and was
preliminary, in fact, to the movements of the
Crown Prince upon Weissenburg and Hague
nau. Upon its success depended in large mea-
sure that of the daring movement which broke
the French line at Weissenburg and Worth.
The anti-PrOtective oracles of our day evil