The New York herald., 1870-08-19

Tho Attitude Of BoIgium.
While the intense war enthusiasm of Franc
and the determined spirit Of the Germans ar
commented on In all quarters, nearly every ont
seems to overlook the gallant front which LITTLE
Belgium makes on both lines of her boundary
bordering on the territories Of the two grea
Seiligerehts now struggling in the deadlocl
close beside her. Yet the attitude Of this
minor Power Is worthy Of admiration. At the
first note of war she instantly began to set hel
house in order, and to-day would offer stout,
aud it might be successful, resistance to
either French or Prussian aggression. Her
Ministry of War. which is one of the ablest
and most active in Europe, has been at work
necessarily since the earliest intimation OF
danger reached it, and it has already between
eighty and ninety thousand men on foot, fully
equipped, well drilled soldiers, admirably
armed with the famous Albini rifle, which Bel
gian military authorities claim to be better
than either the Chassepot or the needle gun.
The metallic cartridge used with it is consid-
cred quite equal to anything that the Germans,
French or English possess. The Belgian mill
tary law requires the men drafted for infantry
service to remain two years with the flag, after
which they are incorporated into militia bat
talions and may be called on at any time for a
months practice in each year, or for permanent
service in case of national emergency. The
mobilization thus provided for is exactly what
has taken place, and the contingent that has
been practising during the present year, when
about to dispense to their homes, were recalled
and are now regularly in the ranks of the
national army The class of 1868 has been
summoned to the same service, and has come
forward with alacrity In fact, there seems to
be no difficulty whatever in obtaining
men, and volunteers have applied beyond
the requirements of the occasion. Be-
hind the army thus arrayed already
stands the Civic Guard, which is quite
available, if needs be, and numbers seventy
five thousand men. The total would thus
exceed one hundred and fifty thousand and
form handsome exhibit for a nation that
claims but little more than FIVE million souls.
At first the intrenched camp of Beverloo was
the point of concentration, but, although the
latter is place within good striking distance
of the frontiers, it is not considered strategi
gress. The bulk of the Belgian forces has
been withdrawn from all the exposed positions,
and engineering corps are stationed on both
the French and Prussan frontiers ready to
break railroad commu nication at given
signal In their overzeal one Of these parties
destroyed magnificent bridge on the railway
leading into France, near Bezieux, and apology
had to be made to the imperial government.
Verviers, too. is very carefully watched,
although the Belgians seem, at present, to be
more afraid of Prussian than Of French in
vasion.
A corps of twenty thousand men has been
thrown into Antwerp, which, contrary to
opinions that have seemed to prevail, is mag
nifcently fortified. and is one of the very
strongest points in Europe. General Brial-
mont, whose reputation has given him rank az
an engineer little, if at all, inferior to the
Russian Todleben has exhausted the re-
oOuTCco VI iuOucIu ShAu upOh uhu WIN AtS
thirty-sx foot walls and immense bitches,
combined with the facility of flooding the ada
cent country for miles, it would be hard nut
to crack for any force in the world, particu-
larly were the fortress aided by friendly feet
of iron-clad steamers. General Eenens, a
first class officer in every respect, has chief
command of Antwerp, with Bralmont for chief
of staff, and General Chazal is at the head of
all the Belgian forces, which are in admirable
readiness for active operations.
1t is gratifying to the neutral outside lovers
of peace to see this minor Power, which is 80
cleverly and TRANQUILITY governed, and so teens
with delicate as well as sterling industries,
thus manfuly maintaining an independent.
selt-reliant position. Her attitude gives her
important influence, and, if assailed, she will
have hosts Of friends;
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