New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-07-12
THE IMPENDING WAR.

THE PROBABLE THEATER OF OPERATIONS
DEFENsEs OF THE RHINE-THE FRENCH AND
GERMAN FoRTRESsES OF THE BORDER.
The map which we publish this morning shows
the probable theater Of operations in the war now
threatened between France and Prussia, and indi-
Gates. at the same time, the territory whose con-
quest is NapOeons real object in the campaign. The
possession of the Pussan Provinces on the left bank
of the Rhine has long been the favorite dream OF
French ambition. Geographically these Prov
lnces may be said to belong properly to the EN-
pre- the Rhine forming @ natural boundary
between France and the German Confedera-
tiOns, although the population of the coveted dis
trcts is German rather than French in its sympa-
thies as well as in its language. For many years
both Powers have devoted immense sums of
money TO the Strengthening of the frontiers and
their respective hines of approach The fol-
lowing article, prepared by correspondent in
Dresden who has devoted much time to minute
personal examination of the localities describes the
PRINCIPAL fOrtresses which an invading army from
either side viii have to encounter.
The Prussian frontier crosses the Rhine few
miles below Emmerich, and long Holland maintains
strict neutrality in all German and French compiler
ons the topography OF the Netherlands cannot belong
20 the subject of this paper. The country along the
Rhine is very fiat far Cologne and the first large
mountains Eife the left bank and the Seven
the right The plains are fertile, aud favorable to the
moving well as the subsisting Of armies.
VESSEL is the first Prussian stronghold the Rhine,
and the right bank just below the mouth of the
Lippe commanding both rivers. The works were CON-
menced by Napoleon and finished by Prussia They con-
of irregular Fashioned rampant with large ravelins
Fort Blcher at the head OF the pontoonbridge which
the river at tins point The garrison OF we tS
whole population is only $4,000
DUSSELDORF no stronghold, but enjoys the best OF
communications, by rail and otherwise, to the four
points OF the COMPASS % CROSSES tns
there.
COLOGNE has beautiful stone bridge, for both steam
ears and carriages beside ponoon-bridge and steam
ferry, and s great railroad center. Its military i'm
potance from these facts together with its
position relative to the confines Of the great plain in
which it stands, and 10 the passes on the south
Prom the camp OF Roman legion, it has grown to city
OF 900 inhabitants It's garrison, with that of Deuts
Just the river, amounts to 1000 The works
consist of welpreserved wall with deep ditch, and
advanced line of isolated FORTS similar but inferior
those abont Paris There eleven Of these FORTS
aud Deuz strong brdge-head with additional
the city and the bridge from the long fire
of modern ordnance In the present state Of affairs the
reduction OF Cologne would quite practicable
derakg long as It s not defended by an army COM
ecGid be rapidly assembled here unless active opera
tons other points should divert them. II Cologne
lively secure line Of operations could be projected Which
shOu follow maeadamzed road through practicable
country, either to Casse or to Hanover.
Drusus thought it necessary TO ferfy Bonn but mod
nance and trains Of these days require roads and
open line Of communications sucn could not pass west
OF the Eel Mountains without being In great danger
from the garrison at Cologne
Two small rivers flow northward between AK LA
CHAPELLE and Cologne-tbe Erft, emptytng a little
above Dusseldorf into the Rhine and the Roer, empyng
at ROermOnde the Mouse. These are the only OBJ
stacles between the frontier Rhine in AK la
Chapene- Cologne line of operations The Ert cannot
seriously impede the advance Of army but the Roer
offers special facilities for line Of defense from Duren
Jlhoh the two principal carriage roads and the
railroad The Mouse, with its forts at Msestrteht and
Venlo secures frontier north Of AK la Chapee, 30
long "a Holland remains friendly the NorthGerna
Bund That AK la Chapelle, though unfortined, IS
Sm mere glance at the topography Of Eastern Bel
GUM The Ardennen wald, covering very irregular
favorable eastward passage at any point between Lux
tnburg and Iege From LICE railroad an9 an SE
10 Cologne From Brussels to Liege the communication
SsS S TSa E Y ns 10 Mons and
pels Is the most favorable, and Naenclehnes N Ques
oIeratons if necessary. Another practicable route is
Via Mezeres, Rocroy and the Meuse But %ne +
tier may be expected at ALL in war between France ana
Germany, must depend principally upon Inc a'''u''
The Argonne forest furnishes an exeenene DaIIler
ssSt an III line Of OPERATIONS The principal
and most direct passage Is via 81 Menenou' au ~. IN.
D.
Duke Of brunswick, much to the discedit OF It's de
tenders Dumouriez 80 impressed vita the an
VANTAGE Of these passes that he EXCHANGED OF occupying
them. - Volta les TkeTmepgIes de Ia France y
yEEDUN Montmedy, and Longwy are all strongly Sort
fed and ought detain any invader long enough 10 al
low an army gather the Gese or IN the pssses OF
u,e Argonne forest. METZ, however, ~ tho most I'M
pertant strategic point IN part Of France ard when
the works building are completed WIZ DO Tue
strongest strong wall win bastlon hcloses
a city OF more than $4,000 inhabitants, and
arrsoned by I0ooO men, The fOrtaheations are rrega
lar but very strong even before the war Vi lo
and important works have been sald OUT aAo
carried forward 70 an advanced stage on fer command
Tdnance as wen as for the destructive force OF
modern projectiles Two permanent Drf1ges span w
Mosee this point, where is also the commence "a ns
sille. The Moselle itself sends out an arm which IA
closes part Of the town. and is called the naVgaus
case Of a siege the water be sufficiently raised II
these inundate the low ground ON the soutl
dOuby Metz, rail and csIriage-roah leae
down the left bank of the river, days march 20
both be commanded by battery posted on the oppoSi
bank Of the Mosee
KNOXVILLE is a small town nclosed by regularly laiC
works. with six bastions and ravens, and covered
by ten advanced unettes The river brdged mere an
forms island the CENTER which is strongly fortned
The bridge is also defended by strong br1dgeneao VIII
three bastons and two ravelins. Commanding eie'a
tons on either side the river invite the enemys Dat
tries The value Of Thionvile, II captured, might no
be very great long Metz should remain intact un
Hes AZ secondary base for corps of observation snc
Thonyile and Metz together base for operation
Oh the Nosee line Metz being far the stronger ana SUI
the south aud west.
The MOselle furnishes the most direct possible line
operations between France and Prussia IL runs lnoeeu
almost Oh the direct line between Berlin and Pans; ait
I4ulfe strong special reason for operating on Az
o.ner me We have found the French part OF tne m