The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-08-17
MACMAHCN'S ARMY.

HEADQUARTERS at Strnsbours-Tho Marshal
In n Council of War-vic wing the PassaScs
Of the Rhine-7'he Crown Prince of Prussia
and His Army Found Out-Surprfse and n
Change of First French Pians-Prussians In
the Black Forest-Wanton Destruction and
Reven8e-Testing the Mitrailleusc.
HEADQUARTERS MACMAHON's ARMY CoRpsl
SrRAsBoURG, August 2 1870. !
Last night q council Of war was held at the
Marshal's headquarters, at which the four generals
commanding divisions Of infantry and the general.
in-chicf Of the artillery were present
Just before 1t met Marshal MacMah0n and his
chief OF the star General Coulron, went down to
LOOK at the bridge over the Rhine which the Prus.
SLAMS blew up about week ago. or at least blew up
at their end of it. lie then visited the spot, little
higher up where the bridge OF boats used to be, re-
turning 10 Strasbourg for the council.
THIS morning MacMaho n left at daybreak for Bril-
muth. small town about twenty miles of, where
the cavalry division and part OF The first division OF
infantry are encamped. All these movements lead
one TO conclude that the commencement Of affairs is
DOT far or
THE CEowN PRINCE OF PRUSSIA AND HIS ARMY.
large Prlsslan corps darnee, under the Crown
Prince OF Prussia, has been massed quietly together
just behind the Black Forest, about twenty miles
from this. tried to telegraph the to your agent
In London last night but was refused. This fact
may alter or modify very much Marshal MacMahOn's
operation towards the NORTH for II all OF his corps
darmee crossed the frontier the north. 1t would
not only leave this Prussian force In his rear, but
would in a great measure leave Strasbourg at the
mercy OF the enemy. This however, no doubt &C.
counts for the extra labor used lattery in putting
this town IN state OF proper defence. forced
march OF a few hours would bring the Prussians to
tue opposite bank OF the Rhine, and q bridge OF
boats could be very quickly thrown across. And
yet, II such are in any way their plans, how comes
1t that not only have they blown up the railway
bridge, but have also las was told me by traveller
who had come from Baden Baden via Basic to Stras-
bourg torn up oil the rails from Kehl at the othey
side OF the Rhine opposite Strasbourg right away
to Baden7
IN THE BLACK FOREST.
The corps d'arnae, massed behind the Blacl
Forest is commanded by the Crown Prince OF Prus
sia, who Is married to Queen Yictorias eldest
daughter, and from what gather from HanoveriaI
deserter now in Strasbourg 1t was by the express
orders OF the Crown Prince that the vandalism o
blowing up the bridge was committed. The Crane
DUKE Of Baden was utterly against the wicked folly
OF destroying for no earthly good, what VIII, wheI
peace comes, take many millions Of francs to repair
and not be finished for months and months. There
could be no possible for the act; for, as men
toned In my letter which gave an account O.
the explosion, at each end Of the bridge there
Is movable portion, which had only to be wheeled
back, as the French have done on their side to rem
dor the bridge utterly impossible. And yet had
this been done on both sides W hen peace came to be
proclaimed half an hour would have made the bridge
rs tit as ever to be used. But not ouy have the
Prusstans In their thrice stupid action entirely de-
stroyed the Iron portion OF tho structure, but the
have, IN their great anxiety to make the work com.
plete, shattered the central buttress OF the per-
panent part VI the bridge that II will have to be
built entirely anew, costing no end OF money and
wasting no end OF time But hitherto, strange e
say, wherever tho Prussians have shown themselves
IL eeens to have been with the intention Of tearing
ND rails or cutting telegraph wires, and seemingly
for the idle pleasure OF the destruction seeing that
nothing they have done as yet In this way can OF
any INJURY 10 their enemy.
The French are savage, very savage, but in
another way. They are Wild to prove to the world
that they have the best arms and have the bravest
soldiers in Europe. But don't think they would =
] am certain their officers would not-wiliingly
allow any wantOn destruction or property, even IN
an enemys country. 1t is true that their African
troops as they cali the Zouavos and Turcos are not
" hat can be called Sin hand.n Their officers have
little or no control them when arms are laid
aside aud duty Is over. And II apy German town
fell into their hands, no matter bow much the OIL
GERS did their duty, would rather not be there TO
see and to have 70 record what would lake place.
POSSIBLE REVENGE.
The Tlraeurs Indigcnes, or Turcos, as mentioned
In previous letter. are three parts Arab and one part
Freedman. VI the former many are pure negroes