New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-08-29
VAR TOPICS.


Among the war songs which are nov IN
spring the German armies and the many war
meetings held in every place inhabited by
Germans, none has become so popular as
"Die Yacht am Rhein" CThe Watch on the
Rhinc.) 1t has for several years been favorite
song of the German singing clubs, but the
present war on the Rhine has at once
raised it to the front rank of all the patriotic
songs. Its author has thus far been unknown,
and its present celebrity has, OF course, caused
great curiosity as to its origin. The question
seems to be fully settled by letter to the
Gazette of Cologne by Professor Hundeshagen
of Bonn, who states that the song was COM
posed about the year 1889 by Max Schnecken-
berger the owner of an iron fOundery III the
Canton of Bern, and that he was present at
! the first reading of the song. Like the song
of N. Muller Sic SOllen ihn NIGHT haben den tfe'n
Deutschen Rhein (They shall not have 1t, the
free. the German Rhine), it was called forth
by the patriotic excitement following the
threats made by Theirs against the integrity
of the German territory. SchneckenbuEer is
not Known to have written any other poems.
He died in 1851
The story of the drowning of Prussian
Army Corps is only new edition OF fabri-
cation familiar in the contemporary histories OF
! innumerable wars. There were several drown
| ing affairs in. our late war, i'll which regi-
ments and brigades were driven into rivers
and ruthlessly drowned-Or reported so. But
we had no genius equal in invention to the
! Paris editor who has just annihilated the Prus-
slams by the sudden inundatiOn OF the gentle
Moselle.
| The misfortunes of the French follow so
fast that they tread upon each others heels
1t is now reported that Gen. Trochu is to be
dismissed from command at Paris-unfOrtu-
nate city and that Napoleon in person is to
lead the Imperial Guard-doomed Guard!
No doubt the Prussian army leaves desc
lated track as it moves upon Paris. When Ma
poleon inaugurated war; he intended to desc
late Germany en- route to Berlin. But that the
Prussians have behaved with unusual severity
OF unnecessary barbarity toward the country
people along their routes, cannot be believed on
the authority of the Paris Constitutional. On
the contrary, Prussian policy in France has
been wisely calculated and persistently en-
forced with the design of creating, If not
love for themselves, at any rate discon-
tent with the Empire. Public prOclama-
ton has been repeatedly made that 1t is
against the Empire which provoked it, and
not the nation which suffers, that war is
waged. The most barbarous act thus far COM
mitted was that Of the French in thrice firing
on flag of truce and refusing to permit the
burial of the dead; and that inhuman deed
found its first and only applause in Paris
papers. The Prussian protest against this vio-
lation of its flag of truce concludes with an
| intimation that no negotiations for peace will
be rendered until the Empire is declared
at an end. 1t is less protest than an in
element to revolution against Napoleon, and
as such it will have It's effect IN Paris. The
effort of the Paris papers to counterfeit this
policy of the Prussians by Misrepresentation
il a natural but weak resort, and will fail
in the end
Count PalikaO has announced that English
manufacturers are making 10000 chassepots
for the French army. 1t is low stated that
the number contracted for is 100000.
1T is not the Parisians alone who protest
against the service of the Empire and who
display their lack of patriotism. The propo-
sition to call into the ranks all married men
was so violently opposed that it has not been
made a law The Garde Mobile has protested
against its incorporation into the regular army.
1t is clear that the French are not as uDani-
nous for war as Paris papers would Rave us
believe.
Napoleon imagined that by this war he
would advance the interests and fortunes of
the Prince Imperial, who, at its close, would
be able to ascend glorious and stupendous
throne, built of human bones and cemented
with human blood. This was what the Devil
promised him, but Satan has always been a
great decever.
1t is to be hoped that, during the bonn
bardment of StrasbOurg, no harm will befall
the great Cathedral, which is known all over
the world as one of the most wonderful eccle-
siastical edifices in Europe. Though its con-
struction occupied five hundred years, it might
be ruined in day by the destructive engnery
of modern war. 1t is German edifce, how
ever, dating its existence back to the time
when Strasbourg was city OF Germany; and
we have no doubt the German artillerists will
be very careful to avoid iDjuring 1t in any
way.
1t appears by dispatch from Rome that
| the French Legion of tho Papd army has be-