The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-08-03
fne aspect ana tho Contingencies NJ th
FrancO-Prusssau War.

| NfoucO-fruaesau WAR
France has gained victory. Napoleon
has invaded the soil Of Prussia, and with
effect. His Majesty led the French troops
against Saarbruck In person yesterday. A
sharp engagement ensued between his troops
and the Prussian soldiers. The French fought
with their usual vim and dash, using their artil-
lery with great effect. After fight which
lasted some few hours, the Prussians were
driven from Saarbruck. The Prince Imperial
Of France took part in the battle He
was by bis fathers side, and received
his first baptism of fire" on the
field. This news reached us by cable
telegram last night. after tho Emperor
had returned to his headquarters at Metz. A
very serious battle is expected to take place
before Sunday. There are movements of fleets
and equipments of armies still going on in
England, Italy, Austria and Denmark.
Nothing has however occurred yet In the
movements of the French and Prussian
armies to give us any clear idea OF either
the frs. result Of great battle or the
| consequences thereafter. The few skirmishes
|
the fighting quality of the soldiers or the COM
parative merit of the implements of war used
by the belligerents. What little we do know
| seems to be equally favorable TO the Prus-
sians for Notwithstanding the superior pre-
paratons Of the French and their ability to
concentrate large force more rapidly than
| their enemy on the Rhine border the Prussians
have been able to gain time aud to destroy
some important works, such as that Of the via
| duct at Bitche, for example, which may prove
damaging to the French. The first Napoleon
was famous FOR the celebrity of his movements
and for striking heavy blows before his enemy
had time to make preparations Such too,
has been the war policy OF other great COM
manders in the history of the world. And
this appears 10 be the kind of warfare that
suits the impulsive and fiery character of The
French people. They have shown themselves
to be most effective when they come down with
sudden aud terrible force like an avalanche upon
their enemy. But Napoleon the Third is feeling
his way cautiously. He may be right in this
and we have to wait for results to know
whether he is or not Still there is little doubt
that he has given the Prussians the advantage
OF time TO concentrate their forces directly In
face Of his own army.
The French commenced an aggressive cam
paign by marching directly to the Prussian
border. The Prussians have assumed de-
fensive attitude on their own soil and appear
to wait for the advance of the French. Napo-
leon may be confident that he can oyerwhelm
the forces of Germany in one tremendous battle
OH or near the border, and that may be the
war by decisive battle at the commencement an
he did The Austrians at Magenta and Solferino,
and as the Prussians did at Sadowa. Yet this
would scarcely seem consistent with his ad-
dress TO the French army on assuming COM
mand. His language was :-''The war which
now commences will be long and hardly con-
tested. Judging from this ne does not ex-
pect 10 end the struggle by one decisive blow.
II will be long and hardly contested, were bis
words. Nor is there any reasAn TO think the
Germans would give up the contest If even
they should be defeated in the first great battle.
many resources, and have too much at stake
for that Besides the Germans, as history
shows. are tenacious, logged brave and per-
severng to the bitter end No people have
ever suffered more from war from great sur
rounding Powers or been more cut up and
divided in consequence, yet, so far from being
crushed, they have risen again, like the phue-
nix from it's ashes, and have become stronger.
We need not go into the details Of history to
show this Every one knows the fact. Such
people are not likely to give up at one dis
aster, or after many, especially now
that they are united, and the aspi-
rations for ages for consolidation are
about 10 be realized The people of the
United States know what it is to fight for
union They have felt the enthusiastic ipsp-
ration. Il is not difficult to realize, then, what
the Germans must feel who have endured the
evils OF dis,inion for ages through the strata
gems and power of surrounding great nations
To fail in this war would throw them back
into the same disintegrated and disorganized
state. The object Of Napoleon is TO destroy
the power of Germany by breaking up the
present union or confederation. Ii is evident,
therefore, that the Germans will fight to the
last for cause they hold so dear. The Ger
man hesrt is fired from one end Of Fatberland
TO the other The French are powerful, brave
and full Of ambition, and the Emperor Napo-
leon has everything at stake. Under these
circumstances the probability is, as Napoleon
tested.
The situation of the two contending armies
indicates that a great battle-such battle,
probably. az the world has never Witnessed
before-nlusi be fought within few days.