The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-08-22

The approaches TO the fine railroad
bridge which crosses the Rhine ct
Mayence are covered by the cannon
of Weissenau. This series of defenees
would allow an army defending May
ence three plains on which to operate,
and the attacking army can arrive al
so from three sides. The ground
south of the river Main has always
been considered by strategists a good
place for French army to cross the
Rhine, as it would then be above all
the strongest positions of the enemy,
in proper position to control the
outlets of Frankfort, and could pro-
tect its rear by the mountains of the
Black Forest.
PRELIMINARY ROGUERY.
The Duke of Gramont's circular to
French diplomatic agents abroad, the
remarkable skeleton of treaty be.
tween France and Prussia, published
recently by the London Times, and
the disclosures which the Emperor has
made TO an English friend. concern
ing his negotiations with Bismarck,
and the iatter's refusal to part with
any of his territory, throw some light
on the high-handed rogueries which
both Bismarck and Napoleon have
been attempting with regard to the
rest of Europe. Because they could
not agree, each tries to take the other
by surprise, and the result is the
crooked evolutions of the Hohenzol.
lern question, aud the final sudden
declaration of war by France, Bis
marck was not prepared for battle, it
is certain; but he was quite as well
prepared to prepare as was France.
He has made up for lost time by that
tremendous speed which is now being
exemplified here in frankfort, where
train of fifty cars. carrying about
1000 men, passes every hour, night
and day. The uprising of the Prus-
SLAMS is something unparalleled ip the
history Of military movements. But ]
digress. The disclosures point to the
fact that Prussia has had her covetous
eyes on Holland for some time, and
has even consulted with France as to
her feeling on the subject. France, too,
wants Belgium, and means to have it
any way some day. If an agreement
between the Parvenue Bonaparte and
the ambitious bismarck could have
been effected, the war of races would
have been put off, and each would
have added to its forces kindred peo-
pies, who would help to make the
great fight all the more better when ii
Should come. There is a rumor cur
rent here now I'm fact, our Minister
to Russia, Gov. Curtin, mentioned ii
to me yesterday at Homburg), that
D. &o1k
is we'll known, has agreed to give
back to Denmark her provinces if she
will remain neutral, and thus prevent
the French from making that country
their base for supplies, or coming
down with both Danes and Hanoveri.
ans upon Berlin. In the north Of
Europe this story is very generally
believed. Russia seems to have
acted q very honorable part in the
most Of these preliminary rogueries
and intrigues. We have been told in
Paris, time and time again, that Gorts-
chakof was there or in Berlin, con-
cocting some dangerous scheme, but
Gov. Curtin asserted that he bad not
been In Paris, and that Russia's only
move would be in case either Of the
great combating powers became SO
absorbed as to forget her, or both
were essentially weakened in the
struggle, to lay her hand upon Con-
stantinople and possess the Ottoman
Empire.
He says that Russia has a constant
ly drilled and thoroughly organized
army of $50, 700 men, and that their
advent to middle Europe would be
disastrous in the greatest degree.
There is no danger that Russia will
interfere In the duel of races" but
she will crafty her own ambition, de-
spite any criticism or any results that
other powers may think logical.
One of the sublime pieces of rogue
~ of which Napoleon III. would per-
haps be guilty-in case he should find,
during his struggle with Prussia, that
the outside pressure was greater
than he could bear-would be the
declaration of a republic In France.
He is said to have told number OF
distinguished diplomats recently that
as a dernier resort he would do that.
and" said he. smiling grimly, in
the course of ninety days there would
not be ccowned head in Europe"
He is capable of such a maneuveT,
and this may be called his ultimatum,
If fate froWns on his dynasty, and the
God of battles despises his cry.
A PEEP INTO HoMBURG.
ran down to Homburg this after
uoon-partly because it had been
said that the King would make his
Headquarters there, and because i
wished to hear little intelligent
American opinion on the war. Stalk
ing into the Kursaal's grandiose por
tico, | found little knot Of Paris &C
duaintances staring at me, with open
eyed wonder, as if l were
.some vexed spirit. from the stygian
banks"
They had no idea that railway trav-
81 was pessible beyond Frankfort, and
we're Tuning and growing at being
hemmed in by the fortunes OF
war. When I told them that my only
neriIous adventure had been that OF
meeting an enthusiastic Frenchman,
who would persist In talking his ma
five tongue. and that my only weapon
was a wicker flask of EaN de lot.
Dome. they we're amazed, and received
me as one come from the dead. Most
horrible stories had been circulated
among them, namely, that the ''Tur-
cos" the horror of all the people
among whom French troops come,
we're marching across the frontier
that the travellers who had he'd from
Hamburg had been maltreated etc.
1t took some time to reassure
them. A good many Americans
were still there, but my visit started g
number Parisward. Gov. Curtin and
family are to remain some weeks
however. Three or four old Englls6 q
Generals, who date from LEIPZIG and
| Waterloo, were there, and seem to
think that the French troops will at
tempt to cross the Rhine much fur