New-York tribune., 1870-08-05

reaches the summit between the valley Of the Saar and
the Nahe and descends that stream 10 Bingen on the
Rhine Eleven miles OF saarbruck is Neuenkrchen,
another important point II is the junction Of the line
leading to Bngen. with the equally mportan line reach
ing the Rhine at Manhemhnd speier Up these lines
to Neuenkrchen and this single line west OF Neuen
krchen the Prussian Army at least 900 must
receive their supplies. 10 is fully 20 miles from Neuen
krchen to the boundary the SOUTH but at saarbuck
the railroad is within reach Of the guns planted
French territory
Three and half miles west of saarbruck is Forbach,
small town, containing the French Custom-House 1t is
an old place the highway leading TO Paris. The rail-
road to Metz runs through the village Between the
town and the river sas the north is the forest OF
Forbach, while oh the south side Of the highway are
series Of low hills with roads and paths winding through
the raynes These hills enough to Saarbruck TO
enable the French artersts to throw their red shot
not only into the town. but beyond it, and the Prussan
batteries the hill Of saarbruck send theirs
well over TO Forbach
THE vosGEs.
Between saarbruck and the Rhine are the Vosges
Mountains, outlying spur OF the Jura range. The rail-
road running due east from Neuenkirchen TO the Rhine
passes over and through themnow winding along mar
row and deep ravnes, and gliding through tunnel
or crossing the valley vaduct. Tho railroad lead
ing to srasburg the French side presents the
typographical features. The town of Biche, on the
French sde is located the western slope of the vogs
Any grand OF either army be made west
Of that locality. Although French troops occupy stras
burg, and found all the way up the Rhine to Base.
and although there Prussan troops at Rastadt and
Keh and other points the eastern bank Of the Rhine
the majority OF the troops Of either army in position
between Bitche and sierck. On the west both armies
are hanked blythe neutral territory of Luxembourg and
on the cast by the vosges Mountains.
THE GAME.
Louis Napoleon has made up his game OF chess, but
how win he play ii He cannot by the left flank,
for Luxembnrg is in the way He cannot move by the
right flank between saarburg and the Rhine without
getting entanged among the Yosges. He cannot make
larger movement and throw his main force on stras
burg and cross the Rhine without uncovering Paris and
leaving his railway connections exposed If he moves
straight ahead the saar he must force line after
line of Prussian positions batteries upon the hills and
sweeping the deles amid the mountains all the way TO
tho Rhine. The Emperor having declared war, King
William wait with patience his advance by standing
on the defensive
Should the Prussians assume the offensive they Will
find numerous obstacles in their path. They can make
no movement by the right flank without violating the
neutrality of Luxemburg. they straight on the
enemy can retire behind the Mosele and hold them at
bay. The Yosges, however, would not be in the way
they to by the left flank; on the contrary,
movement in that direction toward the west would take
them into an open country.
We no 40 w Nndo Oithoi P"A'J
undertake to do but aim only to set forth the topO-
graphical features OF the surrounding country.
DISPOSITION THE TROOPS.
The disposition of the troops in the accompanying
map the of based upon the meager infor
nation that been obnedhrough the telegraph but
the railway connections, the Typographical and geo.
graphical features Of the country have much to do with
the general disposition Of the troops of both armies
RFrom what know OF thecountry and the massng OF
it would that the first great engagement
take place somewhere in the vicinity of saarbruck
or saarburg Ior Neuenkrchep, for If Louis Napoleon
can take and hold the line of railroad between or at
those localities it will go far TO neutraze the action Of
the Prussian ght wing and having accomplished that
France may the defensive and let Prussia take
the laborng The srmishes already had at saar-
bruck indicate that Louis Napoleon feeling the enemys
position at that point. C.C.c.