The New York herald., 1870-12-17
Tho Now German Empiro In General
European War.

DeSpatcnob IrOm washington Ol.y oon'Sy
very clearly tho idea that the impression
there entertained points to general European
war within such limits of time as will admit OF
the forces controlled by the various leading
Powers being properly mustered and arrayed
for the field. We have contended for peace
and have honestly believed in 1t. We still
find it hard to credit the idea that the states
men and the people of Europe are 80 utterly
insane as to rush into general war. But the
signs of the times indicate that the madness of
the hour has fallen upon them all, and that
the rulers, if not the populations themselves,
have gone wild with the frenzy of blood and
devastation which has reigned for six months
past in the fairest regions Of the Old World.
Prussia, and Germany at her back, are evil
dently determined to make the most Of the
advantages that they have obtained over
France, and Russia is availing herself Of
the opportunity which the fates afford
her to push onward the pretensions
which, almost ever since the reign
of Peter the Great, she has maintained with
regard to the extension of her imperial do
minion and the authority of the Greek Catho-
lie Church in the East Prussia, by her very
sudden and decided declaration with regard
to Luxembourg, directly menaces the inde-
pendence of Holland and Belgium and, in
and, and in fact, attacks the guarantees Of
Great Britain, that there are rumors of the
latter Power assuming belligerent attitude.
Negotiations and diplomatic intercourse are
even said to have been broken off between the
Courts of st. James and of Berlin, and the
immediate outlook is for war.
Russia is massing her forces upon the from
tiers of Austria and of Turkey, and we know
that the most extreme activity, in military and
naval preparation, has prevailed for weeks
past throughout the Muscovite empire At
this moment Russia in Europe, according to
the most accurate official accounts, embraces
population of 61, 100,0 900 souls, and the
grand total of people subject to her sway, in
Guiding Caucasia, Siberia. Poland, Finland
and her outlying territories, is about
76, 752, ,OO0 The immediate total Of her
active army is $4,000 men, and, add
ing to these her first and second classes of
reserves, which have recently been called out,
she has at her disposal for action, within three
months, 1,040, 600 troops. Her irregulars, to
be counted with these and now available, are
178, 900 men, chiefly Cossacks. Should they
be needed, the Cossacks capable of bearing
arms are 307, 900 men. This general compu-
tation would give Russia, within six months
time, nearly 100000 soldiers, of whom, we
may be assured, the greater number are pro-
vided with the most approved weapons of
modern warfare. The navy of the Gear, SO
far as it is known, comprises in steam $1,000
horse power and 2,4OO guns, and in sailing
vessels ], 300 guns, with 800 gunboats and three
immense floating batteries for harbor defence.
The personnel of this force amounts, officers
and men included, to 10000. This is tre-
mendous power, which since the Crimean war
has been strengthened and prepared in every
conceivable way. We need not suppose that
Russia, so watchful in all things, so ambitious
as she is and SO acutely stung by the capture
Of Sebastopol, has lost any opportunity or
even any hint of Improvement. There are
some who may remember the triumphal recep.
ton of the Gear at Berlin last spring, and the
long conferences held by that potentate
with King William, Of Prussia, and even with
Count Bismarck, during the series of weeks
that marked his stay at Ems. May not much
of the programme which has since then
amazed Europe and the world have been ar
ranged at that very time? OF course, the
comforting dignitaries could not have antici-
pated SO stupendous success as the Fran CO.
Prussian war has brought; but, that success
granted, may we not now be witnessing the
results of a provisory plan arranged between
them? At all events, we behold Prussia COM
bining and leading all Germany, and the latter,
in victorious mood, preparing to absorb all
the Germanic communities, close or remote, of
Europe, including Belgium, Holland, the
German provinces of France, of Switzerland,
of Austria and of Russia. To this operation
Austria, for one, may object. and, by our late
dispatches, we perceive that she claims a
force of nearly million of well equipped and
disciplined troops. But we must remember
that Of these the German portion will be drawn
toward their own people by inevitable political
gravitation, and that the Slavonic portion, by
religion, association, tradition, nay, by in
stinct, are attracted toward Russia.
There is, then, no other result probable or
natural than that Austria will disappear, as a
first class Power. The German Empire
will attract and envnloD all the Garmana
and Russia will get oil the Slaves. It may be
that for the sake of an equipoise in the South
east the Gear would consent to an independent
kingdom under his protectorate composed of
the Danuban Principalities -Moldavia, Wal
lacha and the rest-but that arrangement
could be but transitory. The ultimate result
could only be Prussia in the West, Russia in
| the East-the masters and the arbiters OIL
| Eurnna.