The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-07-20

ration; war is too costly, the politics of the
continent are too complicated, aud dynasties
are too infirm. A few weeks Of fighting in
1866 destroyed the old German empire, made
Austria practically a second-rate power, Ell.
fected new confederation of the German
States, and raised Prussia to such q threatening
pre- eminence among the military powers that
her rivals fastened to make peace on the
best terms they could. a few weeks more
will probably decide whether Prussia shall re-
tain her precedence, or the first place here
after belong to France. So far as we can
Judge from statistical returns, the two powers
are almost evenly matched, but the victory will
remain with that one whose reserves can be
the more readily modified, and whose organi-;
zation will work the more perfectly In prac-
tice. 80 -'.'.'-s
The brunt of the campaign will be borne on
the Rhine, In the midst OF that net work Of
fortresses upon which the military engineers
Of 80 many generations have expended Their
of previous possession, and the most minute
acquaintance with the country. For years her
officers have traversed the provinces back and
forth; her soldiers have marched over alls the
roads-we might almost say have drilled in all
the fields. Eyer since the FIRST threatening Of
war she has been concentrating her armies IN
these strong places, and when the clash Hf
battle comes she will have In her favor almost
every aid which military science has devised
for defending force. She will have q patri-
otto and enthusiastic people supporting her,
and a Just cause to give her confidence From
present appearances 1t would seem that the
odds are all In her favor; but how we'll she ts
really prepared for batte-how well she has
preserved the admirable organization which
tions which can only be answered by the test OF
war. 1ff
The Invasion of France.
From the New York World, sunday.l
Prussia hardly giyeS herself the air of sur
prised, aggrieved and overtaken State In her
first military movements. The news which
this morning reaches us, that her troops have
crossed the Rhine and advanced upon the soil
of France, indicates q war OF attack premedl-
tated and desired, rather than war OF deIence
forced upon an unwilling and reluctant gov
ernment. II We take 1t, as we are bound TO
take It, In connection with the astonishing ad-
mission of the Prussian Ambassador at Paris,
that Count Bismarck, before the flnal rupture,
bade him fence to gain time and protract the
situation If possible It'll the Goth of JULY 1t
is hard TO resist the impression that the French
Government must, after all, have had intima-
tions, clearer than any which the world have
gressive purpose In the nomination Of Prince
Leopold to the Spanish throne.
Be this as 1t may, the first blast OF the Prus-
sian bugles blown on the winds OF France WILL
long ere these words are printed, have reused
the fiery heart of Gaul, from the Pyrenees to
tho Rhine, and from the Mediterranean to the
narrow seas. The echoes Of that blast will
come back upon Metz and Strasoourg, Union. Tnlon.
vile and Longwy, the defiles OF the YoSges
and the plains Of Champagne, in the tramp Of
o million of men, and the roll OF THOUSAND
cannon crowdlng the roads Of France. IL was
Count Bismarck himself VINO salo only iast
wear. In debating the possible problem
which now the sword is TO solve: "Ine
French nation does not desire war, 1t Is
trsa. but II Is of an infiammable tempera-
ment, and should war break out France
will rush into it with fury and fire Of which
our dlsunited and phlegmatic German factions
have no idea.n The words were spoken, In
deed, as kind of moxa to rouse the patient
to whom they were addressed. But they were
30 deeply true that 1t is not easy to restrain
our amazement at seeing their obvious lesson
disregarded in the first military movement OF
the pOWer whose greatest statesman uttered
them. But Count Bismarck, though he doubt
less planned originally the policy Of which the
burning fruits are to-day a-gathertng, has not
been suffered to control its decisive develop
| ment. The diplomacy Of the war has been
King Williams, and its conduct IN the field
we presume, is King Williams also.
The point at which the Prussans have enter
| ed France would seem to indicate their inten-
ton of moving directly upon Metz, were 1t not
almost impossible to believe that any capable
Prussan commander can seriously contem-
plate On assault In force from this quarter upon
the formidable triple-lines OF the eastern de-
fences OF the French empire-defences greatly
stronger, both by nature and by art, than the
lines Of Rhenlsh Prussia from which the inyad.
ers move. 1t is much more probable that the
advance will eventually be resolved Into Q
mere adventure, intended to give q political
rather than o military initiative to the cam
paign. But from whatever point Of view 1t is
contemplated, and whatever Its real scope and
significance may prove to be, 1t seems to US
clear that 1t must be pronounced NILS.
take, and q very mischievous mistake,
on the part of those who make It,
We have but meagre details of information
as to the actual position and distribution o1
the French forces in Eastern France. But
such as we have justify the impression that the
French marshals are moving by the flank Of
Luxembourg through the valley of the Moselle,
by the ancient City of Treves, upon Mannheim
and Mayence. At Mayence the Prussians are
believed to be concentrated in force, and uE.
less which we do not believe, there be some.
thing more meant than can as yet be fathomeG
or than we have supposed to be meant by the
Prussian demonstration towards Forbach, we
may look, within very short time, for the
first grand clash Of the hostile armies, almost
upon the very banks Of tine imperial river foI
| the control Of which two mighty civilized ma
uons are marching once more, as their rudel
fathers hare marched a hundred times before
them, to battle and to murder and to sudden
| death.