Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1870-09-08
European Army Leaders.


| tonishing rapidity, for they are rare indeed
whose fame Is so little dependent upon the
subtle magic OF success that they can afford
or survive defeat. Brief As has been the
present war in Europe, it has already
proved no exception to the general rule.
II the stubborn courage and splendid
abilities of McMahon shine all the brighter
in the light of his desperate struggle
against superior force and undescrved
disaster at Worth. it must he admitted
that whatever of military reputation the
French Emperor carried with him TO the
Rhine frontier has been blown 10 the winds,
while Marshal LeBGuf, with Generals
FroSsard aud DeFaily. from whom so
much was expected, are, to say the least,
under a tolerably heavy cloud, and the
brave Douay i dead on the field of honor,
being relieved, by later reports, from the
imputation Of nock-herolc suicide east up
on him by the first sensational accounts.
Much has already been said of both III
prus>ian and French war-leaders, but,
while on both sides the two mighty arina
ments are apparently preparing for the
decisive struggle, il may be well TO take
another look at these men on whom so
much is supposed TO depend
King William |. Of Prussia. nominally in
command of the armies of the North Ger
man Confederation, is a hale and hearty,
blum and honest old gentleman oil seventy
three. who proved himself Il good soldier
and very respectable officer in his younger
days. and who now in his green old age.
retains altogether too much OF sound com
mon sense TO embarrasS by uncalled-for
dictatiou the couns els and determination,
ofyounger and abler men.
In one sense ''next under the King. not
A. an active leader in the field, but behind
all and over all, thinking and planning for
all, everywhere present in his deep laid
plans and comprehensive combn ations,
il Baron Won Moltkc, the veteran General
/ in-Chicf OF Star. To whom credit j. to be-
/ given not only for the glores Of Sadowa,
/ but for the splendid preparation Of the
/ PruSslan armament, as well as the prompt
movement OF the vast armies OF the Ger
mans upon plan whose every detail seems
/ To have been 30 thoroughly wrought out
/ beforehand that results follow almost with
! mechanical certainty. General Won Moltkc
/ will be seventy years old on the 36th of
/ October next. and has been from hi, youth
an officer OF known and thoroughly trusted
/ ability.
| Unier the King, and like two powerful
executive armies To carry out the grand
1 designs of Won Meltke. are two Princes of
the blood royal. in the flower of early man
hood such as for personal character and
mental ability no other royal house in
Europe can boast. Each Of them is sur
rounded and supported by general, of tried
ability and worldwide reputation, but
neither the Crown Prince nor his cousin,
the Prince Royal, has shown himself want
ing in the qualifications OF q great com
! mander.
The Prince Royal, Frederick Charles.
gene rally conceded the first rank as to
military ability, is a man Of forty two
'
hood. distinguished himselfby his aptitude
and enthusiasm in all military matters
He gained his reputation as a general in
the Schleswig- Holstein war and in the
brief campaign against Austria which end
ed at Sadowa. He is the nephew oi the
King of Prussia.
The Crown Prince, Frederick William.
only son of King William, and heir to the
Prussian throne, has thus far, even more
than his older Cousin, attracted the atten-
ton and praise of men in the present war.
while his urbanity, kindness of heart, and
freedom from that pride of manner which
is such an enemy of princes, has won him
the enthusiast devotion of the soldiers,
who are ready TO follow ''our Fritz" to the
ends Of the earth, or, as is more likely, to
Paris. The Crown Prince is now thirty
nine years Of age, and is married to the
eldest daughter of Queen Victoria. His
private character is said to be excellent.
Although he commanded an Army Corps
in the Scheswig- Holstein war, he saw no
active service, all his laurels, up 10 the
opening OF the present hostilities, having
been won in the Sadowa campaign.
Many other names have been made prom
inent on the Prussian side, as that of the
veteran Won SteinmetZ, who commands
ment-but it Is too soon to say who will
J clash to the front" when the official dis
, patches announce the real history of tho
war.
On the French side, also, the interest l,
concentrated on a few prominent names
nor can we more than surmise how long
it will be before these are replaced by 9th
ers.
Gen. Trochu, Major-General of the army
and Chief -of-Staff, lust ut this present Gov
ernor of Paris and invested with excep
tional powers, gained high reputation
for strategic and engineering ability in tht
. Crimean war, and has had long career
of successful service. His present posi-
/ tion is one which attracts a great deal 0
attentive criticism, which is increased b!
the fact that he is not q Bonapartist, no
, yet Republican, but is supposed to hav,
, strong tendencies towards the house O
!, Orleans, the younger branch Of the Bour
, bon family. As matter of course, he ha.
I 10 difficult task before him, and his quas
! Dictatorship win b beset with jealouaisl
SEQ. iepay undermine or overwhelm hin
= ndmomsnt.
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