The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-09-02

The Progress Of tho wass
Anything like decisive battle In the opera
tons on the Mouse may make short war, II
the decisive battle should come now; but
every day Of delay-every hour given to the
great preparations now In progress for arming
the French nation, must defer the end. Some
thing Of the consequences of delay through
indecisve operations In the field we saw In our
own recent struggle. Mcclellan went to the
Peninsula with over ono hundred thousand
effective men when there were less than ten
thousand to defend Richmond, but he was de-
layed until over o hundred thousand soldiers
had been raked from all the Southern States.
Then In May he sat down to think before the
city that he could have walked into in April
While he was yet thinking. the force that had
been brought together subsequent to his land
Ing at Newport News came out and doubled
him up. All that was done In three months.
France is arming now with great vigor, and IL
the German armies are delayed yet awhile
longer they will encounter presently not other
armies but an armed people. inspired only
with the patriotic thought Of crushing the ln-
vader. Every indecislve battle helps to this
end, and any crushingly destructive ono for
either side will avert suoh q prOlongation Of
the contest
Our Special Letters from EarOpe-Iseligiou
and Democracy ns Being indicated by
War.
We continue the publication of our special
correspondence from Europe, received by the
mail of the Goth Of August, In our columns
to-day. Our writer's date In London, in Rome,
in Berlin, in Switzerland and in Ireland. They
indite their letters at the centre of Christian
apostolicity, at the Prussian centre of the war
moving power Of Germany, near to the centre
of refuge and shelter for the European democ-
racy at ''Tell's Peak" and 10 Ireland not far
from the paternal homestead of the forefathers
of Marshal MacMahon. The correspondence
conveys consequently, very curious and
attractive matter. 1t compels one to
think Of what is still coming, to
remember what has been. Great Britain
continues, as will be seen, to put forth her
huge naval power. She is organizing her sea
force. Her Admiralty care In this direction
extends all over-from the most huge IRON
clad and the most effective gun to the most
destructive torpedo, its safe immersion and
method Of submarine explosion. England looks
to her flag In the transatlantic waters. Her
feet ordered for service on the North Ameri-
can and West India stations has been made
really formidable-a fact which may give rise,
very reasonably, on this side Of the ocean to
the questions of:-''What is it all about ?"
''Have the little old woman and fallen oute"
War and the alarms Of war kept the Holy City
in state Of unhealthy, irreligious excite
ment. His Holiness the Pope vibrated in
feeling between his faith in the efficacy Of the
keys and his desire for the security Of the
sword Of Peter. He believes that bis system
is founded on a rock, and thus indie
structible; but yet, Notwithstanding, he
wishes that tho seat Of Christianity should
be well guarded, just as the English assert
that the rock of Gibraltar Is impregnable, but
sill continue to despatch troops aud NUM-
tons of war and troop ships to and off the
fortress. Napoleon's recent policy towards
the Catholic Church in Rome was really dis
quieting to Pho Nino, 80 much 80 that his Holt
ness appears to be very doubtful as to the
result of the situation in so far as his human
fallibility is concerned. From Berlin we have
a revised muster roll Of the commands of the
first great Prussian armies which were
marched TO the field for contest with France.
The war shock reverberated in the mountain
glens Of Switzerland. Bismarck's system of
Ella
confused and divided in opinion on the subject
of the great conflict. Napoleon has disturbed
his once peaceful home the Emperor has
alarmed his fellow citizens Of the republic
Swiss neutrality was to be maintained, how
ever, at all hazards
Ireland maintained her attitude Of sympathy
for France. The Green Isle was becoming
more healthily national Some of her most
distinguished sons had united in new league
for the attainment of the right of self-govern-
ment, and thus just as democracy is about to
be vindicated on the Continent comes forth a
powerful Irish party which holds out the sun
burst and shamrock of Erin and tender them
for fraternal union with the tricolor Of France,
the olive of Spain and the white cross Of Italy
and Savoy.
THE SIEGE OF STRAsBoURG.-O latest
| dispatches represent the city Of Strasbourg as
holding out, despite the fearful bombardment
to which 1t has been and still is subjected
The commander Of the fortress and the citizens
are said to be determined never to surrender,
but to burn the place rather than permit the
Prussians to occupy it. Divested Of the Idle
in the last ditch heroics, it is evident that the
French are defending Strasbourg with great