The New York herald., 1870-07-24
THE rRussiAN POSITION.

1t Is evident that the dispatches which reach US
from Germany and France are confused. Yesterday
ii was announced that the Prussians had retired
nom their position between the Luxembourg fr0n-
tier and the Pa!atine This morning it IL announced
that their headquarters are at Keuzenach and that
Saarbrucken win be their Of operations As
cards the latter the statement absurd Saarbrucken
Is situated but few miles rom the French from
tier, and IL, If previous dispatches can be relied
upon, In possession OF the French army at the pre-
sent moment. In Ike manner, it Is stated from Ber
lin that General Dreyse VIII lead the advance beyond
the Rhine Unless the Germans propose to invade
France along her Rhine frontier, we cannot imagine
what this means. g
But from amidst great deal OF confusion, which,
by the way, Is naura enough ar this early stage of
the campaign, we gleam the iact that the Prussiau
he aiquarters are at Kreuzenach. This would indi-
cate defensive line beginning at Cobenz and form
ing bow, with It's left termination resting
on Mannheim. Such line would AFFORD
far more protection to Southern Germany than that
from Ooblenz along the Rhine 10 Mayence. But
even with this line the strategic situation is more
favorable to the French than to the Prussian. A
movement by ono column across the Rhine In
the vicinity OF Rastadt co operated IL by com
bined movements nom Bitche and Forbach,
or Saarbruck upon Mannheim and Kreuze.
mach would probably necesstate the retirement
OF the Germans from Mannheim unless the first column
OF French on the right bank OF the Rhine was de-
feated Ia general engagement. II Is, however, I'M
possible 10 form any positive idea Of the situation
without knowing the precise location OF both armies
All that has been written IN the foregoing is based
upon tue statement made yesterday that the German
forces had retired from the French ironter thereby
abandoning the greater part Of Rhcuish Prussia to
tl.a vi .f f.
kREgzENAcH,
Accepting the sta.ctaent that Kreuzsnach u the
present headauartesof the Prassian army, it be-
comes interesting 20 learn its situation and conuec
tlons. Kreuzenaca u Town Of 10000 inhabitants,
and Is situated eight miles south OF Bingen ldear
Blngen on the Rh.nel on the rlilroad between Metz
aId Mayenee. Ts railroad, IL should be stated,
west by south from Mayence to Blngen, near the
banks Of the Rhine. when 1t takes al abrupt turn
and continues almost due south to Kreuzenach,
when it follows west by south, southwest and west
southwest course TO Metz, making 1t q decidedly
crooked road. 1t forms conpecton with the Metz
and Mannheim Hatlr0ad at Bexpach, on the Bavarian
frontier, where a singe road continues to Metz.
Near Bexbach Is the town OF Homburg, In Bavaria,
where the fortress Of Schlossberg, celebrated in the
Thirty Years. War, was located, and which was
razed In RIA. sqr! ,ee .rf.tli. ..fs
krouZenRen lies on DOM 3i0e3 o. the river name, q
stone bridge connecting the two parts. The vest
side, which Is The most popaous is poor and delspi
dated but the east side Is covered by splendid hotels
and lne' houses. On account OF It's cold saline
spring " IL lavorte resort for invalids,
several thousands Of whom visit 1t yearly.
As q military position the place possesses no
special importance. 1t Is, however, very old. ana
was ut one time fortified post. In 1882 the
Swedes. tUrnmanded by Gustavas Adolphus took 1t
by assault. after severe struggle, In which LORD
Craven, the champlonof the Queen Of Bohemia, ana
every English oriccr present were wounded II
has been owned alternately by Germans
aud french, though it Las been for the
greater part Of fhe time under the contro,
Or protection 0f Erace. In 1914 the French gave I;
TO the Counts Plattne Of Simern, exactly forty.four
years after they ravagcd t; Ia 1907 1t was annexed
TO the Empire, and In 1914 after the dOwhla OF
Napoleon, was given TO Prussia, which Country has
retained IL ever since.
The distances from Kreuzenach to the most promi-
Rent points occupied by the belgeient armies are
as follows:-TO Metz, about 1i6 miles by road
to Cobenz about f0rty-three, via BIngen to Mayence
via Bingeu, about tWentythree; to Manheim by post
road, i0rty miles, and 10 Treves about sixty miles.
Its spec al advantage army headquarters is un-
dOuDfediy itp position between .CoOlobz and May
ence, ana the complete manner In which IL covers
the entire railroad connecting those two places.