The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-07-18

between France and the German Confedera-
tlons, although the population of the coveted
districts is German in its sympathies as well
as in it's language. For many years both pow
ers have devoted immense sums of money to
the strengthening of the frontiers and their re-
spective lines Of approach.
EHRENBRETTsTEN.
The strongest defensive point on the Rhine
ia Ehrenbreitstein, opposite CoblenZ and the
mouth of the Moselle This is an elaborate
fortress, laid upon, or hewn into rocky bluff,
which proudly lifts itself three hundred and
seyenty-Hve feet above the right bank Of the
river. and overlooks large landscape to the
west and south. On the northeast, however,
there are higher hills, which ascend gradually
from the foot of Ehrenbreitstein, and from
which the fortress can be bombarded with
great facility. The writer of this was
positively and persiscently refused per.
the fortress. or even to take the view there
from. This delicacy can hardly be to conceal
the strength of the place. Yet it Is stated
that two or three lines OF Fashioned works
have been skilfully engineered and thorough
lv built on the weak side, so that the Prussian
engineers pronounce 1t as strong as the faces
hle. for the western face has also an evident
element of weakness in the high walls, built
Of small small and irregular stones,,t enlarge the
area of the fortress and to present more reg
Mar front. Thesel walls are not calculated to
resist modern projectiles, and will, surely be
battered down with dispatch as soon as the
enemy's guns get into position VIII within range
bjlity or only the beauty Of the fortress Is an
open question. The bomb-proofs are represent
ed as very strong, and would perhaps not be
weakened through all the artificial walls were
broken up and rolled down into the Rhine. It
is ominons, however, that admission to all OF
the interior covered parts Of the fort is also
refused to strangers. In l79i the french e en- m
very little difficulty-having first created q, d.
version for the garrison. Later, the Directory
laid siege to the Stronghold and after three fall
ures finally captured It. We are given to UNDER
stand that failure Of supplies WAS the occa-
sion of the surrender. But some persons say
that Colonel Faber, who commanded the place
during the siege, acknowledged that the
French cannon had wrought irreparable mis-
chief, and made the post untenable, and that
the failure of supplies scarcely fastened the
surrender. The French blew up the whole fort
upon their evacuation, after which Prussia de-
voted ten years to the restoration and perfec-
ton Of the works, 80 that now they ought to
survive as much fre as dla FoE Sumter.
Ehrenbretstein admits GARRISON Of fourteen
thousand men, and Its magazines Will hold
provisions enough for this force for five years.
A we'll in the rock furnishes On unfailing
spring of water. At the foot of Ehrenbrelt-
stein, at the waters edge, is new casemated
work nearly finished, which is Intended to De
bonib-proof, and is designed to sweep the
river at short range. where the guns OF the
fortress would be harmless, on account OF the
great depression of aim required. Fort Aster-
stein lies on the same side Of the river, little
to the south. 1t Is separate tort OF conslder-
able strength, is situated on moderate eleVa-
tion, and is itself supported by three small
THE CITY OF CoBLENz
is surrounded by strong wall, which is
pierced on the land side by only two gates,
and these are secured by casemated towers.
The walls of the town, however, cannot be
reached without a struggle; for on the same
side, both II the Rhine and of the Moselle, are
the two strong forts, Alexander and Constan-
tine, supported by third work, which Is quite
small. Fort Alexander l. the strongest and
most important point in this vicinity, except
Ehrenbretstein. 1t lies on the Karthause bill,
about three hundred and twenty feet higher
than The. city, and would naturally be the
object of the first attentions Of the enemy
in case of siege, since Fort Alexander
having been captured, Coblenz would no
longer be tenablc, and strong fire could
be concentrated upon the river as well
as land side of the works across the
Moselle and Rhine. Fort Franz, on the left
bank Of the Moselle, occupies o moderate ele-
vation, and commands the railroad along the
Rhine, and the carriage roads to Cologne and
Treyes, besides forming together with three
smaller works, o sort OF fortlfed camp lot
large body Of troops. All of this lies under
the guns Of Ehrenbreitstein. An army OF l00,-
600 men can encamp under cover of the
various forts about Coblenz. They can COM
municate easily between the opposite banks OF
both rivers, by means OF the railroad and pom
toon bridges across the Rhine, and the per-
manent railroad and carriage bridges across the
Moselle. This strong position could be t'lrnedb by
crossing the Rhine at NeuWledItRe polnt
where Caesar first crossed-and advancing di-
rectly northward by macadamized road
through the Westerwald. This, however,
would be perilous undertaking, and though
the passage should be made without Interrupt
ton, q line Of communications could not possi-
bly, be kept open so near to Cooienz: Ihe MO-
selle, therefore, being so securely held at It's
mouth by the Germans ana t tS aRper course ,n
OPERATIONS for either; but the great facility OF
further operations, either northward or south
ward, when this line should be once fairly con-
ouered, would make it seem worth the under
taking.
LUXEMBURG
was Prussia's strongest fortress; and, for
guarding the frontier and defending the Rhine.
as well US for covering and supporting an In
yasion of France, no better position can be
fonnd. The dismantling Of the works was
nevertheless consented to, as the price OF
peace. Yet the work Of destruction Is so par
tlal, or advances so slowly, as still 10 be the
occasion OF complaint. And this Is not SUR
prising, for though the Prusslan soldiers are
missed from the streets and walls. and Two or
three roads have been opened through the
ramnarts on the weaker side, yet the out
ward aspect of the rugged eastern face has
not changed in o single feature; and, in case
of war, the first body Of troops to reach the
town would soon fortlly the points now eX-
posed, and then enjoy all the advantages OF
one of the strongest places In Europe: yet
this strength Is more natural than artificial,
and no combination of powers can expect
to raze natures buwarks by a mere word,
even though it be more Just word than that
which doomed this fortress. Can either Hol-
land or Prussia be required to I'LL up at enor-
mons cost the immense ravlne which almost
encircles the great fortress, or to blow up the
easements heWn In the face OF the living rock
on which the city is built? II not, then Lux
emburg must remain for ages considerably
stronger than either Vicksburg or Jerusalem
which latter it much resembles The only we'll
advanced Prnsslan fortress for the defence Of
the Rhine at the frontier Is Saarlonis-a small
and antimated work on the Saar, the chief
tributary of the Moselle. This Is entirely In
adequate to the demand for an advanced post
TO hold the enemy in check while the army is
mobilized and brought forward, or lot oase
nf1 1ln dim