The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-08-31
prlnce Albert took part In the sehleswig-
HolStein camnniyns and commanded nnnf.


nally the Saxon army in the war of 1866,
when he sided with Austria. Since the
formation Of the North German Confedera-
tion he has had command Of the Saxon
army of 10000 men, forming the twelfth
orth German army corps. This fact alone
should be evidence enough of his ability,
Tor General Won Moltke has shown no hest
tatlon in appointing Prussian generals to
command Bavarian, Hessian, or Wurtem.
burg troops when they had no generals of
ability Of their own.
Fanny Lewald, German girl, writes to
her -countrywomen,r through the Cologne
gazette, In this war1ike style: "Will you,
While your sons stand before the French
cannon, and thousands among them shed
their noble young hearts blood for the in;
dependence Of Germany, will you still run
about wearing towering, insane-Iooking
French chignons, and will you still allow
your clothes to be made according to bold
French fashions?" 'f+
The Paris correspondent of the London
Times writes, August II: s.a@#
1t seems almost beyond doubt that the
news of q great battle lost would be the
signal for the Chamber of Deputies to de-
clare the throne vacant, perhaps, by u1an-
imous vote; for there is sad detection
among many who pass for staunch adhe-
rents. Nobody doubts that zoe are on the
high road to republic; and What alter
that is the question asked for past expe-
rience Of a republic in France has not in
spired the bulk Of the nation either with
love for that form OF government or with q
belief in its duration. " The Orleans fam
lily" is the usual reply. Altogether, the tone
of the newspapers and of conversation In
scr ,pf nh n
for the Imperial dynasty. One hears very
little of Fiue la Emperor! but a good
deal of 90 Viue la France :" "There must
no longer be any other cry" says paper
to-day. 1. #@.s
The Army and Macy Journal tells the fol-
lowing anecdote: .--.----.----
Two years ago distinguished American
soldier called upon General Won Moitke at
the war office in Berlin, where he found the
great Prussisn strategist poring over his
maps Of the Rhine frontier. " If you will
permit me, General Won Moltke," said our
friend, ''I should like to ask an imperti-
not as you think best" Certainly" re.
piled the general task it." Laying his
hand upon the open map with significant
gesture, he inquired: Are you ready p
eyes" was the answer, sonly we cannot
in case of q war with France hope for such
good fortune as attended US in the campaign
against Austria. The great difficulty Is that
our King cannot be persuaded to declare
war, and thus give us the benefit of the ini-
tiative."
General Goeben has the reputation OF
being the best officer of his rank in the
PruSsian army. He is HanoVerian by
birth, and is fifty years OF age. He en-
tered the service of Prussia about thirty
years ago after taking part in the Carlis1
campaign in France. In 1866 he com
manded the famous division of Westphalla,
forming part of the corps of General Vogel
de Falkenstein, and which performed the
celebrated march from Minden to Wurz
burg.
General Decacn is kind to his men, but
inlexible on the point of discipline. In hi:
division there are, of course, some loafers
and laggards who drop their gun in the first
ditch, and after the action quietly report
with a cool "I have lost my arms" Now
these fellows reckon it up: "The loss Of {
muskct; well, that means one or two years
in prison. The war will last all that time
Better be in prison and save my skim
General Decaen went one better. He issued
an order of the day "Every soldier losing
his musket will be sent to the advance pos
without arms. No issue Of arms shall be
made to him until he brings in full equip
ment from the enemy" Three or four mer
were actually sent to the front, but no one
reports loss of arms now.
THE PRUssIAN PLAN OF THE CAMPAIGN
AGAINST FRANCE-A sINGULAR STATE
MENT.
A correspondent of the New York
Herald in letter dated Carlsruhe, August
10, says:
And now think am able to commune
cate a very curious piece of intelligence.
for the accuracy Of which can vouch. Ii
was told me yesterday, and shown to me in
black and white, and in such manner and
by such q person that there can be no doubt
whatever Of its truth. 1t Is as follows:
Bismarck and Moltke never intended that
4 shot should be fired in Germany. They
knew month ago exactly the state of for.
wardness, or rather the state of backward.
ness, of the French army. Wherever
horses or provisions were being gathered
together for the French there was Prus.
sian agent taking stock of the same. Al
Berlin, and indeed throughout Germany,
there were but four persons 6dmfted to
know the plan of invading Frs@ and moi
allowing France to invade IA. These
were Bismarck, Moltke, BfHHenthal, and
the King. The idea was of course fostefed
that the French would certainly invade
Fatherland," for by so doing the national
spirit was rendered all the more intense
The secret was well kept, so well thai
throughout Europe every one believed
Prussia would have to act upon the defen'
siye, and that French armies would be fec
on German ground. And this belief worked
in another way for the advantage OF Prus'
sia. ..e. =ess. "+-...5
1t made the French all the more careless
about. providing for the feeding of theii
army. They believed that in one or two
davS at most after taking the field they
would be in the Valley Of the Rhine or that
of the Moselle, and have all the crops and
stores at their disposition. But what If
tell YOU what have myself seen in docu'
ment, which admits of no possible doubt
that so long ago as the Esd Of July, the
exact day upon which the Prussians would
cross the frontier in force, and the very
places where they were to cross, were al
ready settled and named by the initiated few
who directed affairs!
What if I tell you that the advance upon
Wissembourg, the subsequent following o.
the French troops, the breaking of their
line by attacking them somewhere In the
valley of the Saar and the forcing of them
back upon Metz or Nancy, if they were moi
utterly beaten before, was all mapped out
by a master hand in the great art of war
twenty days ago9 For the truth of what !
here state / will be responsible. 1t is i'm
possible for me to state where or how got
the information but what say is the fact,
and one hardly knows which to admire
most, the head that planned this attack
upon the enemy that expected to be the in.
yader, or the marvellous secrecy with which
the intentions of the Prussian leaders were
concealed so long as there was any reason
for doing so.