New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-07-27
WAR TOPICS,

The delay in the commencement OF opera
tons on the Rhine has been highly favorable
TO Germany. One of the advantages possessed
by France, under the circumstances i'll which
the present war was declared, lay i'll the fact
that she could bring her army to the field of
action much more quickly than the Prusslan
army could be brought. Admirable as the
Prussian military organization is, it did not
furnish anything like the facility enjoyed by
France for Immediately establishing the mill
tary strength Of the country at any given
point ready for service. Then, again, besides
her own army, Prussia had to get i'll hand
the military contingents of the States of the
South German Confederation and this, on
various grounds, necessarily involved delays
that were dangerous. At the beginning of the
troubles, therefore, time was of the utmost
value to the Prussians, and Napoleon, in Civ
ing them this, has given them an advantage
of which they have actively availed them
selves. AS consequence, Prussia has not
only been able TO mass her army, select her
position, and make every preparation for the
struggle, but the South German States, which
Napoleon was to take by surprise, have been
able to get their armies in the front as
friendly allies of Prussia against the common
enemy.
One of the effects of the publication of
the projected treaty. between France and
Prussia for the absorption of the Belgian
monarchy viii undoubtedly be to give addi
tional security to the independence of Belgium.
England has always regarded her guarantee
of this as invioabe, and the alleged attempt
of the French Emperor upon it has reused her
-, ton, 30,
defend it at all hazards. With a moderately
sized military force, supported by her navy,
England could without difficulty maintain the
independence of Belgium against all aggressors.
The French military implement known as
the Mitrdtlieur, which was described in THE
TRIBUNE yesterday, and of whose destructive
capacity we have heard so much, bears a very
close resemblance to an American invention
which was offered to our Government at the
opening Of the late war. Some of these ma
chimes were taken down to the Army of the POtO-
mac, while it was on the peninsula under McClel-
Ian, and experiments were there made with them;
but it was decided that they were not availa
bic for field service against the enemy. Dur
ing the draft riots of 1863 in this city two of
them were placed in the City Hall Square, and
dt lnt IuoD, WHICH WIS tNlutHlly over
awed by their formidable appearance; but
they were never brought into actual use. If
we remember rightly, the American inven-
ton consisted of twenty-four peculiarly
constructed rifle barrels, which were placed on
a light carriage framework. The whole of the
barrels were not only discharged simulta-
neously, but voley followed voley with the
greatest possible rapidity. We heard some
time ago that this invention had been brought
to the notice of the French Emperor, who di-
rected experiments to be made with it, and was
highly gratifed with the results. We doubt,
however, whether the Mitraiileur will be of
much service in the campaign on the Rhine
The World makes rather queer attempts to
attract public sympathy with the French En-
peror in his quarrel, and to excite animosity
against Germany. II holds flor example, that
we should admire the Emperor for trying to
stab us in the back during the Rebellion, and
that we should scom the Germans for oaning
us thousand millions of dollars during our
troubles. Its exact words are:
The error of Napoleon III. az to the Southern Con-
federacy had something moro manly about IL than the
Wiling " wound Aaa yet Atgaid " strike CONDUCT VI