Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-07-18
EUHOPEAN CONTEsTs.

EUBOPEAN COMTESTS.
In view Of the war between France and Prus-
sia q word as to the contests in which they have
been engaged in the present century will not be
out Of place.
The War Of 1918.
At the Congress Of Vienna, In 1914, the Empe-
Tor OF Russia demanded that the whole of the
Grand Duchy OF Warsaw should be ceded to
Russia ~ an indemnity for the losses she had
sustained and the heavy sacrifices she had made
during the war. Prussia warmly supported the
claim of her late ally, not because she deeply
indebted to Russia Tor her deliverance from the
yoke Of Napoleon, but because she claimed
various provinces on the left bank of the Rhine,
which, by the dissolution Of the French Empire,
were at the disposal ofthe Allies, and the whole
of Saxony, promising to cede to Russia the
southern provinces Of Poland. This proposal
met with strong protest from France, Austria
and Great Britain. Prussia and Russia both
declared that they would not give way, and
made immediate preparations for war. The
energy Of the other European powers, however,
soon caused them to lower their tone. On the
Sd OF February, 1915, secret treaty Of alliance,
offensive and defensive; was signed between
France, England and Austria. The Kings Of
Hanover, Bavaria and Piedmont were in,
SO. Its principal provision was that the
contracting parties should disinterestedly
proceed proceed to carry carry out the stipulati0ns Of
at once abated their claims, and Prussia was
content with part Of Saxony, consoling herself
with the prominent position given to herself and
Austria in the new German Confederation;
four votes out OF seven, il they could only pull
together, giving them all the preference they
could desire. But all the while Napoleon, in his
island prison, was not idle. On the 18th of Feb
ruary he escaped from Elba; on the LIST Of March
he landed in the Gulf Of st. Juan; on the night
OF the 10th his carriage drove into the court yard
Russia, Prussia, and Austria, entered into a
treaty on the 25th of March, by which they
agreed to unite their forces against Napoleon, TO
lie x~z Ns,~y-
emnly binding themselves not to lay down their
arms till they had completed the destruction of
Napoleon. With an exhausted treasury, empty
arsenal twelve thousand pieces OF cannon alone
Paris, with regular force under arms, which
did not amount to 10, 900 men, Napoleon set
himself to oppose the whole of Europe. The
well-known campaign, ending with the decisive
battle Of Waterloo, was the result.
The Italian War Of 1859.
The war OF 1859 originated in demand on the
part Of Austria for the disarmament of Sardinia.
The Emperor Napoleon espoused the cause Of
the Italians and declared in favor Of the free
dom OF Italy from the Alps to the Adriatic. The
usual efforts at peace making were made by the
great powers, especially by Great Britain.
These, however, were thwarted by Austria and
war declared. The French troops were at
once dispatched to Italy to oppose Austris's pre-
tensions, and soon after their arrival in that
country the Emperor himself took command.
General Forey, who was in command of the first
division of the first corp darmee, fought the
battle OF Monticello on the Goth day of May,
gaining the first success over Austria. The bat
tie of Magenta, which was fought on the 4th of
june following, was fought by Gen. Mcmahon,
ing SO great that he was created a Marshal of
France and Duke Of Magenta. The final battle
of the war, that OF SOlferino, was fought on the
oath OF Jnne, the Emperor Of Austria being op-
posed in person to the Emperor of the French
and the King of Sardinia. That famous battle
resulted in giving Victor Emmanuel the king
dom dom Of Italy, 4 and secures for the French En-
struggle which may change the map Of Europe.
The War OF 1866.
Ere the close OF 1865, events began to point
toward crisis in Germany. Austria, under the
leadership of Won Beust, believed herself the
protector Of Germany, and exercised her power
TO preserve intact the Central German States
Prussia offered to the German people the choice
under her leadership, or remaining a weak ted,
Grafton of impuiSsant territories, under the rule
OF Vienna. Austria had armed with, perhaps
tiOn the view G on terriying Prussia by her prepara-
looked upon at Vienna as the result of coward
ice. Prussia did not wish for war, but at last
King William determined to place himself in a
position to free his kingdom from even the
shadow of the Austrian policy. Bismarck de-
termined that Prussia should no longer be the
second power in Germany. He used to say that
as Austria was 'one, }" so also Prussia was sone,,
and that with safety Austria could no longer be
allowed a hegemony over Germany. Austria had
whatever foreign policy she should adopt, andthe
Central States, fattered at being directly en-
gagged IN questions Of European policy, eagerly
followed her lead. The Central States by this
means enjoyed a degree Of equality with Prus-
sia. They felt an eepecial delight in causing
Prussia to recognize the power OF the Fedora
ton, and the securer they felt of the majority
the more ready were they in following the lead
OF Austria to humble the power Of Prussia. The
opinions Of Prussia were stigmatized as nom
German, while Austria was praised as the ex-
elusive representative Of Germany and German
interests. The Prussian press urged that Aus
tria would have no hesitation in destroying the
RECREATION In carrying through her own policy.
Already she had invited the governments of the
Central States to enter into warlike alliance
with her, and place their troops under Austrian
command, in direct contravention of the articles
OF Federation. On the 7th of May, 1866, an at
tempt was made on the life of Bismarck-hap-
PLY frustrated-and on the 18th Of June the
Prussian columns under Won Moltke were in
motion for the south, with what result the world
knows. Austria was humbled, and Prussia as
sumed her present position, it may be said as
the guardian Of Germany.