The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1870-09-21
Earthworks in the War.

If reports from the Prussau seat of war are true.
the American system of temporary earthwOrks will
form a large element in the campaign. Says tele-
gram: The territory of the Rhine provinces being
covered with earthworks of this description. The
land from Cobentz to Mayence is entirely cut up in
this fashion already" This lesson was taught to
Europe by the American Had Austria thrown
up temporary earth deences, she might have long
sisted the advance of Prussia and perhaps saved her
self from defeat overwhelming that of Sadowa;
but with honorable, though mistaken self-conf-
dence in her power to meet Prussia in the open field
with numbers, she spurned this precaution and
suffered for it. That Count Won Moltke should now
have adopted policy of attack and defense, which,
if slower is much safer and than the old risk
ful one, is evidence of his quckness to appropr
ate improvements in the art of which he has been
close student. If Prussia chose to remain wholly
the defensive making of all her assaiable points
vast conuected system of earthworks, it is not
easy to see how France could whip her, Over and
again the Confederates with far smaller forces
than ours, repeled most determined attacks, be-
they were protected by earth barriers thrown
up perhaps in a single night. It the earthworks
manned by thin line of troops. equally brave with
in his protracted flank march upon Richmond
and it only when the defenders had been killed
of or worn down to comparatively a few thousand
men that the immense Union army able to burst
through their lines and take the Confederate capital
The Prussians being less brave than the French.
and having forces equally large and well supplied
with ammunition provisions and all means of sus-
tanning siege. may infer from the experiences of
our war, that they invineibe the defensive.
Were Prussia aud her allies intending merely to hold
what they have, risking nothing the issue of
great battles unless forced upon them they would OBJ
viously put France at disadvantage which she had
probably not calculated on. Being the challenging
and assailing party, she must move the euemy's
works. She cannot, without loss of prestige. con-
tent herself with fortifying the Germans are, and
keeping the defensive too limiting her only aggres
sions to those of her powssul navy the North Sea
and Baltic ports. war so cautiously and timidly
conducted the part of France. would not satisfy
that high spirited, impulsive nation. Such nacton
would endanger the Napoleonic dynasty, not merely
among the people, but in the ranks Of the army itself
1t would be with all its expenses and all its losses
of life by the slow picking of of troops with little Of
its excitement and glory. Should Prussia have re-
solved upon the plan of wearing out the enthusiasm
and patience Of her mighty antagonist who will say
that her scheme is not wise one? But II is not
likely that proud and essentially military nation
like Prussia will be content to play poor-spirited,
if judieious a game, in the war It may be expected
that she will not avoid stand-up fights with the
Freneh-that in fact, she will seek them-at times
and places where preponderanee of forces which
every sagacious commander seeks to have with him
at the critical moment. gives her reasonable assur
anee of victory.
But in attack well defense, tenn porary earth
works would be al-important adjunct. In case Of
reverse, the Germans fall back upon them and
thus prevent the issue of the battle from being as de-
csive that of solferiro or sadowa. Napoleon,
presume, apprised Of this change of tactics
in favor of the earthwork system BY Prussia, when
he issued his address the army declaring that the
war would be "long and aud hardly contested" As
suredy it will be, the Germans desire to make it So
As matter Of course, the French will have adopt
a similar system for their protection and safety;
ohsrwse they will be continually exposed to the FIRE
Of the terrible nesdlsguns from behind the advancing
earth-works Of the Germans. Il is not improbable,
that in this war. in rebellion both armissvill
always be burrowing toward each others positions,
and that considerable proportion Of the losses will
be inflicted by sharp-shooters both sides. This
tiresome business will be varied now and then by
desperate attacks upon each others sntrsnehments
Occasionally there will be great battles arising from
bold nvasions. where armies will have to be met in
the grapple Of death but defeat even in such cases.
have already said viii not be necessarily fatal
If the beaten forces have their lines earthworks to
fall back upon. The determination Of Prussia If cor
recty reported, to introduce thisws may fairly call
the Amercan-system Of military operations. renders
it extremely probsmateal whether either of the ma
lions will gain an undisputed mastery in the conflict
while it increases the chances Of the friendly inter-
position Of the allied neutral powers after the combat
ants nave become wsaried With mutual slaughter.
TEE latest humbug in New York is " blood bar
ometer TO test the purity Of the blood-price five
cents"
AMONG the Sheyot hills Of Scotland they boast of /
sheep whose wool will measure eleven and half |
inches.