, 1870-07-14
THURSDAY, JULY IA, 1870.


Louis Napoleon Oe1leFeS uo5L uflly LAdl
France can thrash Prussia, in the event of
war between these powers. That he has
nerfect confidence in victorious issue of
collision, is shown by the'avidity with which
he has seized upon the Leopold candidacy
tor the Spanish throne, and sought to fasten
the responsibility on Prussia. He desires
n brush with that power for the double OBJ
ject Of acquiring the strip OF territory
living between the Rhine and the eastern
border of France, and Of popularizing the
Napoleon dynasty for the advantage Of his
son.
France for centuries has been first-class
military power, and never was better pre-
pared, or better able, to make fierce and
terrific onslaught on any Of her neighbors
than at this moment. Her army is second
to none in Europe in number, equipment,
discipline, and willingness to fight any
power. with OF without sufficient provoca-
fion. Her naval armament is second only
to that of Great Britain, mud but little in
ferior to it. She is largety superior to
Prussia in her naval arm, though the latter
has become very formidable and is being
strengthened with remarkable rapidity.
Notwithstanding the extreme confidenee Of
the French nation in their ability to defeat
Prussia, the result of contest naay rudely
shatter IT. Prussia is no longer the weak
est of the frst-class European powers, hut
ranks at least third-that is, next after Rms
s'a and France Prussia proper numbers
just about p, oo'',o 600 souls The States
of Sa1ony, Brunswick, Mecklenburg and
Hesse-Darmstadt, which are Prnssian prov
inces for a! military purposes, number
fully 5,0Wl, 600, making the North German
confederacy 80, ,000, ,0o0- But in all inter
national questions involving the integrity of
German territory, the German States south
of the Alala are bound by solemn treaties,
offensive and defensive, to Prussia These
States are Bararia, Wurtembuzg, and Ba-
den, with population something over
10000, 600. In case of war With France,
the standing army of $4,000 men, which
they maintain, would be Immediately placed
at the service of Prussia. The German
power, therefore, which France must ell
encounter, II she makes war on Prussia
embraces population of 10, 600, 900, while
France numbers IS. 600 con. Bisnark can
put in the field rs many soldiers as Ma
poleon. The standing army of North
Germany numbers 4G5, 600 men, to which
add the troops of South Germany, 145,
md The total amounts to t;1o. 900 regulars
constantly under arms and reasy to march
to the Rhine at The tap of the drum. The,
there are in North Germany 800, ,00o well
disciplined men, who belong to the re-
serve, who can be plaeedin the field, armed
md equipped, in week notice, and 15o,-
600 OF the same kind of men IN South Ger.
many. Behind this whole field force of over
million and quarter of we'll drilled. splen-
didly armed troops, there are. at least, two
millions of men belonging to the Land
wehr and Landstur7n, to garrison the for
tresses and I'll up the depleted ranks
of the force in the field Every able
bodied man in all Germany must, as
soon as he has completed his twentieth
year, serve three years in the regular army,
four years in the reserve, and, at the end oi