The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-08-05
The Theatre Of War.


1t is the good fortune Of Belgium,
which, in so many continental wafs, has
been the battlefield Of contending ne
tions-the cock pit of Europe, as it has
been not inappropriately called-this
time to be counted out. Not only that,
but like trespassers "warred off," and
threatened with the law, the combatants
Slave been told beforehand to march else
There with their stakes and ropes, ard
ind another place to pitch their ring.
The soil of the Low Countries
ders, as it was formerly called--has
drunk enough blood. Not one Of its
principal towns but has been repeatedly
besieged, sometimes taken and re- taken
repeatedly during the same war, or in q
single campaign. Not one of its little
streams but has had its water crimsoned
with the blood of wounded and dying
anen, while the grass of its meadows has
been made greener by the graves which
II covers. Not to go back to medieval
times, Alva and the Prince Of Orange,
Marlborough, Turenne, Conde, SAKE,
Fauban, Napoleon, Wellington, names
the most illustrious in military annals,
are associated with battles and sieges
which have takon place in Belgium. It
IS time that the little kingdom rested
from the sights and sounds of war. It
has proclaimed its neutrality; England
stands apparently ready to enforce it,
and, after the "secret treaty" business,
neither France nor Prussia will proba-
bly, be in q hurry to violate it. So the
theatre of war is transferred Southwark
and Eastward to where the frontiers Of
france end Prussia join-a narrow strait
from Sicrclz to point little East of
the fortress of Snar5ruck, not measuring
over forty miles. Westward lies the
neutral ground of Luxembourg, an ap-
pendage of Belgium, and Eastward is
the Bavarian Pfalz, not neutral, since
Bavaria is allied with Prussia, but not
Prussian. Southwardly, where the
Rhine forms the Eastern boundary of
France, is Baden. To indulge in sur
miscs as to the probable plan of cam
pGgn Or movement of armies, when any
hour may bring decisive news, would be
simply idle.
A few general speculations only may
be hazarded. The magnitude and
proximity of the opposing armies,
with the facilities on both sides for
observation, prompt communication and
transportation, almost preclude the pos
sibility Of anything like surprise, or
tie successful accomplishment OF what
we used to hear so much OF during our
own war-a flank movement. Such a
movement, always dangerous in tie pre-
sencc OF powerful and active enemy,
would, under present circumstances, be
sttended Wit: infinite peril to the army
attempting it. Whenever an advance
taxes place on either side, it will, there
tore, probably be q direct aGvaucc-a
cautious one, no doubt, for the situation
compcls caution-but one which, if the
Two armies are anything like equal in
numbers, must lead to ! battle From
The present location Of the French and
2russian headquarters, with the mass Of
troops on both sides, it would not be
unreasonable to look for that battle
somewhere in the triangle formed by
Metz, Kreuznach and Coblenz--with
the probabilities in favor OF an advance
by the French. The invading army, of
course, cannot select its own battlc-G Geld;
tie force Which is acting Oh the dcfcn-
;iyo may. After tic first battle. whittier
the tide OF war will ultimately roll
whether in the direction Of Paris or Bcr-
l2-whcther the Prussians will be ablo
d maintain their position in front Of the
Ehinc, or whether they will be com
Wclle,! 20 retire behind that stream, are