The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-08-26
WHO COMMANDS THE PRUSSf fANSf

BEFORE the commencement OF hOStilitieS be-
tween France and Prussia the military supe-
riority of the former power was admitted on
all sides almost without hesitation. 1t was
believed that the French army was better
organized, better drilled, better officered, and
inspired with more of the genuine military
spirit than any in the world. The manner in
which the Prussians fought in the war with
Denmark and Austria only few years ago
inspired the belief that France had found her
considered almost a certainty that the
French would achieve the first victories and
force the Prussians to carry on the war on
their own soil, there we're many who were
willing to take heavy odds in favor of the
ultimate triumph of the latter. ALI this is
changed now, and in view of the splendid per-
fermances of the Prussians, it is amusing to
read some of the criticisms of their military
system which were current but few weeks
ago A specimen of the kind of disparage-
ment to which the Prussians were subject is
found in the following paragraph from letter
written from Paris to the Cincinnati CONNER
ct0y by one of its editors, Mr.. Murat Hal
stead, which has been going the rounds of
the newspapers for week or two:-
"The Prussian army is weighed down by hideous
aristocracy of officers. The real generals are not
according to appearances, put in command. par
Gel OF princes are nomnally at the head of the
prince two at his back just the great Bismarck
has been compelled to bear on his broad shoulders
the poDderous and vain old King, who goes along
with bis army and thinks he commands it,"
If the Prussian army is weighed down by
hideous aristocracy of officers, it certainly
bears the weight gracefully. The probabili-
ties are, however, that Mr.. Halstead studied
the Prussian military organization too much
from an entirely Partisan standpoint, and
that. like the Frenchmen who imagined that
they were going on a little summer holiday
excursion, in which the advancement of the
glory of France and the humiliation of Prus-
sia would be the pleasant incidentals,
he has learned a thing or two
by this time that he never knew before.
The ''ponderous and vain old King is GER
tainly with his army, but there has been no
utteranoe of his thus far to show that he
considers himself the real leader of his forces;
and if he has not the ability to command an
army himself, he possesses wisdom enough to
select somebody who has brains enough to do
the real work of directing the campaign. In this
he may be advantageously compared with the
French Emperor, who has made a muddle of
his affairs by attempting to play the role of
simon once"
1t is possible, but not probable, that the
Prussian princes who have, nominally at
least, thus far led their armies in a splendid
series of Victories are stupid fellows, with
real soldiers at their elbows to tell them what
to do but as armies are not, as general rule,
commanded with distinguished success in this
manner, we are forced to the conclusion
that the Grown Prince and Prince
Frederic Charles are generals of real
ability, even if they do happen to be
princes. 1t is the fashion nowadays to dis
parage loyalty at all points; but, per Sc, there
is no good reason why prince should not be
a mau of brains as well as one who has not
royal blood in his veins, and although we are
good republicans, it is rather gratifying than
otherwise to see the Prussian princes proving
themselves to be something more than orna-
mental fgure-he