The New York herald., 1870-08-03
Premier OIlivior,s Opinions.

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| rocks.
| Premier Oiiivier's Opinions.
Paris tuy 1S) correspondence of London News
to-day resumed my hunt for a safe conduct. and
obtained an introduction TO M. olivier. AT eleven
informed that NJ. olivier then at st. Cloud
and would be a. the Legislature at nOon but pos
and little later M. Olivier received me. had ex-
pected he would simply inform me whether could
obtain the desired safe conduct or not, but when
asked whether might convey 10 you his cOnversa-
tion-a permission which he granted without re-
serve. Will accordingly try TO give the CONVERSE
tiOn as heard his snare 0r II, we'll knowing the
great difficulty OF reducing such verbal communi
M. Olivier began by telling meschat the War Minis
ter General Le0eui, objected to all foreign
p0ndents, and also to French ones. He would pos
sitlvely have no writer with the French army or at
least, that such was the present determination
which might indeed be afterwards modified. He then
expressed his extreme sorrow at the attitude OF the
English press (which, he said. based upon CON-
pete misapprchenson OF the true causes OF the war
gr1eved at the comments In our journals. he COM
planned that the Emperor had always been more
than friendly towards England that he himself mad
done everything to promote warm relations between
the two countries that especially he had studied the
Lngilsa commercial sH interests oM Sas ,o.o he
As to Germany, he had taken Office on the
condition tnat there should be no German
war; the Emperor too was well aware OF the respOn-
sibllIty involved, and most anxious not TO destroy
the state Of peace, but 1t impossible to permit
Prussia 10 drag them through the mud by an insult
openly and publicly avOwed. Indeed In the legiti-
mate interests OF the dynasty, NJ olivier had been
Obliged to entertain the idea OF war France could
not brook an insult or at least deliberate one Her
rulers under Louis Philippe, had, 1t Is true once
made her swallow one, but this was the cause OF the
downfall Of the Orleanist family. the exact
sequence of events which caused the war was az
follows:-rhe Prussian King mad at first made con-
party cOnciliate this PAL ty no had given France
an insult and published tit was the publication
must now decide, but as France was united 70
man there was no doubt of the eventual result.
said, but can convey to You no idea OF the power
The .,verve" would, perhaps, be the best word-wlth
it continued the only faint idea that can give OF
IT'S perfection is to say that all through had great
he od competeJ did he pat me- as INV ease
| and treat me on footing OF equality. AS to the
correspondent question, with all my respect for
high class stategist think he Ia utterly wrong
Correspondents could do harm If they were allowed
telegraph what they chose; but this Is easily pre-
vented. The real reason that generals object to
writers in their camp is because they dislike and re-
. -ent cr'ti"'em.
YysseS;.s - say ,n., c"~'"- hinted-I don't
think he saidesGat victory would d97ermiiYe 9xte.
rior sympathies; remark with deal OF truth, but
which does not comprise the whole question. An
other point In NJ Onivier's conversation struck
He incidentally sad the Chassepot must resolve
the question: but did seem to take any inter-
est In the technical details of the subject. There
M. olivier was right; probably he went on this all
| important fact being the opinion OF others; but
have personally no doubt that the ChassepOt will
! do q great deal for the French. As far as Dreech
| action ts concerned, the Chassep0t is only trlfe
| better than che needle gun; 1t Is shade quicker
| in loading and has shade less 'crachement,n
| splitting than the needle gun, and disturbs less
the aim OF It's rer, but in the barrel IT Is Lombard
| street to China orange on the ChassepOt. The
needle gun has barrel designed long before 1850.
| The French barrel was blocked out with all the
superior science of 1865 The needle gun has poor
yards, and wounds rather than kills the Chassepot
bullet, driven by huge relative charge OF powder,
| makes terrible hole There are certainly some
| improved needle guns; but must be re-
| designed, not patched to secure victory.
Tho French Army-Ifs Comu,a nders and
! Position.
| A war correspondent of the London Netrs writes
| from Paris, the 18th of July, as foilows:-
| The army--for but single army IL talked Of-into
| which the whole OF the disciplined strength OF
the rst Canrobert; second, Palikao; third, Frois-
sart; fourth MaoMahon; fifth, de Failly; Imperial
over Paris calling out the Reserve. The Marine re-
| serves are to muster on the 10Th OF this month,
while the last men who should present themselves
Chose residing1n Parls) to attend muster the
2Sd. IL must be remembered that these reserves
men who have been allowed to return their homes
been no war, they need never have reloned their
c0lors In addition, the Garde Mobile Of the whole
army, is called out That Of the west and south OF
France is still left TO reap the harvest The Garde
Mobile OF the Third corps OF the northeast are to
and Strasburg while the surplus Is to learn It's drill
| at ChalOus. Even the shade OF JOmini could not re-
pr0ach Napoleon Ill. with want OF attention to the
| reserves.
What is being done with the regular army The
Paris journals tell us that 20, 900 day are being
carried eastward on the Strasburg ine while
ly equal amount Is being brought up to the point Of
concentration from Lyons and the south. l can
| hardly myself believe that many men can DO
transported along the line.
will be seen That very little is known OF the exact
point on which the French army IL concentrating,
although it Is probably not far from Nancy The pro-
liabilities OF the campaign in the situation in which
the rival armies find themselves placed, may, in its
main features, De easily cOmprehended. The French
front, MS opposed to the Prussians and South Ger
mans, may be considered to commence at Switzer
land and to be formed by the Rhine to little below
Strasburg; this constitutes the right, and Is about
SIXTY miles in length. The centre of the front the
| country about seventy miles) between Strasburg
| and Metz; the left that between Metz and Belgium
| "a little over thirty miles,. Metz and Strasburg
are irst-class tOrtresses but the French front is
| strengthened by many minor Should the
Prussians attack the right Of this front they must
operate from Bavaria which would be far from their
| own strength and would leave their communca-
tons. If they force the centre they leave power
| ml fortress either flank. They might force the
right; but II they do not respass on Belgian terri
tory They would have but thirty miles breadth fer
| their zone of communications. For 100000 men
thirty miles is q very narrow strip; there IL no more
| margin about IL than Mr.. Dewar, late OF the New
Royalty considers there is about sixpenoe On the
| other hand the defensive strength Of the PrussIans
consists the command Of the Middle Rhine, given
ny abe possession OF the Ortresses OF Mayence Cob
lentz, Cologne and Wesel. Should the French ope-
rate against the Prussian right they might drive
their adversares across the Rhine; but the command
Of these strong places would still give tho Prussians
an enormous advantage Should the French cross
the Rhine above Mayence they cut on and almost
destroy this position and Isolate Bavaria; but then
they leave we typssaans 1earer 10 Parts than they