Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1870-08-31
THE GREAT WAR POWER oE EUROPE.

THE GREAT WAR POWER 0E EUROPE.
five consider in all its features the cam
paign which King William is now prose-
cutting in the very heart of France, we will
not find its parallel in the history of the
world. There have been battles more de-
cisive, victories more brilliant and move
ments more rapid, but never in any histo-
ry of which we have knowledge is there a
record of armies as numerous, as well dis
ciplined or as thoroughly organized having
been put into the field within the same
number of days, and meeting with success
es as important and uninterrupted as those
which have thus far been chronicled of the
German armies in France. The rulers OF
Europe have witnessed this unexampled
demonstration of power and perfect mill
itary organization with something like
CONSERVATION. A system of government
which at once combines greater average
Intelligence among the people and mill
tary system superior to anything the world
has ever known is well worth studying.
In 1866 this same powersuddenly sprang
to arms, and in the incredibly short space
vi bhli luiO I)Obtlllld All III
my of over 400, 600 men, as well equipped
and efficiently organized as any Europe
had ever seen. Before its Irresistible col
umns the soldiers of Austria were driven
and defeated in battles following each 9TH
er with wonderful rapidity and almost un-
exampled brilliancy' and dimensions.
Europe watched these developments with
undisguised alarm, but finally drew con-
ISOLATION from the supposed inefficiency of
the Austrian armies and want of ability OF
Marshal Benedek, their leader The war
ended in brilliant campaign of sixty
days, the result of which was the humili-
alton and disastrous defeat of Austria. The
Prussian armies were disbanded and her
veterans quietly returned to resume their
accustomed avocations. Europe recovered
from the shock, and concluded the result
was not so much because of the superiority
of the Prussian army or military orgrniza-
tion as it was the needle gun or the infe-
riority of Austrian soldiers.
But now the crowned heads of the world
are again startled by a demonstration OF
power. more wonderful and alarming than
that of 1866. Napoleon, on the 10Th OF
July, declared war against Prussia, and at
once placed himself at the head of large
army and directed the head of his columns
towards Berlin. The prestige ofhis name
and the acknowledged valor and STRENGTH
of the French armies, induced the beliei
that we We're to witness, on his side at least
an aggressive and brilliant campaign
Prussia was supposed to have been sur.
prised, and Germany, it was thought
would again be desolated by the Tavages OF
hostile armies. But so perfect and active
was her military system that at the sound
of the bugle blast her whole male popula.
tion subject to military duty, quickly and
Systematically rushed to arms. 1t was not
the gathering of raw recruits, withOu
arms or equipments, or officers, or camps
or organization. 1t was the rapid mobili
Zation of trained soldiers, who had theil
arms, equipments and ammunition ready
for immediate service. There was no con
fusion, no want of system, no waiting fol
arms, ammunition, quartermaster stores Of
commissary supplies. Each regiment was
organized in designated district, each di
vision in given territory, each corps in
known division of the State. Every mar
knew his company, each regiment its rem
devious, each division its camp, and eacl
corps its headquarters. The whole country
was n camp, and when war was sounded i
sprang to arms. In two weeks a half mi
lion of men crossed the Rims. Rhliips and Gfr
Rev. j. W. Mann followed with warm e1-
lortaton
An opportunity was then given for any one to
peak upon Experimental Religion. Revs All r
iin, Spence, Drake, Harrison, and Others spoke
)riehy. Il
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