Southern shield., 1870-07-30

Nautills. Completed and in commis- sion are four more heavy iron -clads- the Friedrich Cari, now in London, of l6 guns and 1000 tons; the Crown Prince, of same force; the Arminus, of four heavy guns and 1900 tons; and the RIlnce Albert, of three, with a of 700. Of frigates there are the Elizabeth, 2S guns and POGO tons; now in sta Eea S3aaf 3offk IaaffG6e5, IfaaffGe te gana@, l715 tons: the Kealanne, same force as the Arizona. Of corvettes there are the Augusta, II guns and 1900 tons; the Victoria, same force the Mcdusa, at the island of Ralanine, Prussia's new posseSsion, 17 guns and 1000 tons; and the Nymphe, of same force. All theses are powerful steam vessels. There are two steam sloOps, the Prus- sian Eagle and the Grasshopper, and 22 steam gunboats, averaging all to- gether 5S guns of the heaviest calibre.
 To be built by 1877 are f: II iron clads of the largest size, II double banked fligates, ' heavy sloops, and 5 transports. Of sailing vessels there are 3 frigates and brigS, amounting to 162 guns and 5,763 tons.
 Tle vessels in commission are man. ned by 5.O12 sailors, 737 engineers, 37O carpenters and mechanics, 192 warrant officers, and 255 officers. Be sides this there is a reserve of 4,15G men. which can be called upon at any time. and a second reserve called seevehr, which acts only in the time of war, and may be translated sea militia.
 The naval school is at Kiel, in Schleswig, and so popular has the ser vice become that there are now 400 marine cadets at this establishment, whereas two years ago there were but 72, of whom J9 have become naval of ficers of the second grade.
 The mercantile marine numbers : from Prussia, 3,6ll vessels and 6J1, ; 900 tons from Hamburg, 467-tons, 245, 300; from Bremen, 301-tons, PA, TOO: from Mecklenburg- -SchweIln, 449-tons, 172,600: from Oldenburg and Lubeck, 2S4-tOns, G7 500. .sr,n-ss---'..- " as.s-s-. - 'lVr vrvoo.
 FOrtresses of the Rhine.
 Prussia, conscious of the jealousy with which France viewed her pro gress, and anticipating war, has for some time paid the greatest attention to the Notifications of the cities on the Rhine, and on the Baltic sea. She has on the latter the fortified ports of Wilhelmshafen, Kiel, Dantzic, Sunde- witt, and Alsen. The last named is perhaps next to Ehrenbriestein, the strongest position which Prussia has. The forts and batteries of H9rup Haaf, at Alsen, are prodgiouS. These works comprise three star-shaped forts, with double tiers of guns, and fine coast batteries commanding the pass age of the Little Belt. All these are faced with chilled iron, from the Krupp Iron Works of Essen, and arm- ed with the heaviest ordnance. They command the Straits, and protect the canal of Alsenund and its communica- ton with the port, and with the forti- jed camp of S0nderberg on the same island. Doppel, the scene of the con hict with the Danes in 1863, is close on Sonderberg, and both are garrison ed by the Ninth Corps fArmee.
 Stettin is garriSoned by troops from the Second Corps, and is governed by Lieut-Gen. Freyhold.
 Dantzic is gari'isoned from the First Corps, and is commanded be Gen. Won Brockcr.
 Stralsund and Swinelnunde are both small cities, of more historical than real importance.
 Kiel, which is on the mainland of the province of Schleswig, is most strongly fortified, is heavily garrisoned4 ;,, -i r~-foII Ene Ninth Cs-. -.t,yia; ;s..a .s.. af;illear1v officer CT of great skill and OK perience.
 Memel has only small garrison.
 Koaq9berg is very important city, 4, t..,s.Es iaTre garrison. It is under the command of Uen. -r~.. Harwarth of the First Corps.
 Of the fortresses of the Rhine and it's vicinity, the most important are May ence, Rastadt, Ehrenbreitstein and Cologne.
 was formerly city of the German Confederation, the old ZolIverein, and was garrisoned by Austrian and Prus- sian troops. It's peculiarly dangerous position, being on the left bank of the Rhine and greatly coveted by the French, led to its 1ortllcItions being of the strongest character. It was garrisoned by 5000 men, but after the decisive defeat of Austria Ill the late contest, it was agreed by the treaty of Prague that it's fortifca- tlOns should be diSmanded and its gar rison withdrawn. This stipulation was insisted on by Austria, but the PruSsigns have never carried out the and Mayence Is at thls one of the strongest cities in .he world. The four lines of works, Ire greatly strengthened by outworks, md by detached forts and by Fort which is on the upper bank ,f the Main. Tine city of Mayence is opposite to the mouth of this river, which here falls into the Rhine ahout