Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-07-28
THE RUTLAND HERALD
TUESDAY, JULY 20, 1870.
The Franco.Prussia War.

initiated between france anu IrusSAa'
This arises from several causes. The dis
patches sent us by the agents of the Asso-
ciated Press are in many respects unreila-
BILE and sensational, and the character OF
the news communicated puzzles the best
informed upon foreign affairs; but it is
certain many of them prove to have no
foundation in fact. The conduct of the
Associated Press is an outrage and insult
to the American people. Hence, it is i'm
possible to express more than general i'm.
pressions and give the current news OF
the hour, which may be contradicted in
our next, or even in the Geographic col
umns of the same paper.
Aside from the statements of several
prominent ministers and the Emperor's
proclamation to the people of France, the
situation develops itself slowly. These
documents, however, do not throw much
light upon the French side of the question,
or fix the responsibility, but only seem
calculate to fire the hearts of the French
nation with perhaps an effort to influence
pnhlic opinion.
Russia avows neutrality, and Austria
does the same, saying she will resist every
overture to participate. Denmark is re-
ported through French channels to have
decided on war, but the source through
which it comes makes the rumor suspi.
cioned. England is rumored to be engaged
In warlike movements, but these move.
ments are probably only naturally pru-
dental on her part, which as one of the
great powers it is proper for her to make,
in view of the present aspect of affairs.
The latest dispatches which come by
the way of London from Coblentz, report.
ing skirmish on the frontier, has little
Importance, save the fact that it brings
intelligence of the first bloodshed of the
war. But this throws no light on the
question as to which of the two armies is
actually preparing for a campaign of in
Vasion. The wsr now threatens to begin
in the neighborhood of Coblentz, which
will be described hereafter. The point to
whore it is said to have occurred lies near
the French frontier on the line of the
Iudwigshafen and Bexback Railway,
which runs from the left bank of the
Rhine over against Mannheim to tho for
midably fortified French city of Metz. 1t
is not far distant from an objective point
in Rhenish Prussia for advancing force
in earnest from Coblentz for the invasion
Of France.
Coblentz, near which city it is supposed
the first shock of arms between the
French and Prussian armies will be felt,
is situated on the left. bank of the Rhine
and tho right bank of the Moselle, at the
confluence of those rivers 1t is about 20
miles northeast of Metz, blythe post road,
but it is moro than double that distance
by way of the river, owing to it's sinuosi-
ties. Coblentz contains a population of
about twenty Thousand eouls, and is one
of the best fortified places IN Prussia
The Notifications surrounding it form a
vast camp capable of containing one hum
dred thousand men, and combine the svs-
TENS OF Carnot and Montalembert. Four
IoftS protect 1t on the left bank of the
hhine' These Notifications, with the
Fortress of Ehrenbreitstein, were over
twenty years in rebuilding, after the
downfall OF Napoleon, and cost some $780,
ooo'Ooo' The principal strength of the
Guy lies IN Earen STeitstein donors bread
s'oheh II village and fortress situated on
urge so"K Winch towers above every thing
''' minus ''"""'' IL Is lmPregnable to
N'F'"'' on thF'e SIDES, but on the north