The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-07-18
7HE COMMENCEMENT OF HOSTILE
TIES

TIES.
PRUSSIA and France are both pushing forward
with the utmost lapidity their forces to the
Rhine, and are endeavoring to obtain posses
sion of the strong strategic positions. Any
information about the movements of the
hostile armies at this stage of the campaign
must of necessity be extremely indefinite
and we accordingly find that the cable tele-
grams of the last two days are little more
than contradictory rumors from which it is
scarcely possible to CLEAN more than few
facts of any value in forming an estimate of
the exigencies of the situation. 1t appears to
be tolerably certain, however, that the Prus-
SLAMS have attempted to enter the French ter
ritory apparently for the purpose of attacking
the strongly fortified city of Metz This place
is nearly south of Luxumborg, and nearly
southwest of Mayence, both of which posi-
tions are held by Prussia; and if she can
establish herself also in Metz, that portion
of her frontier contiguous to France will
be strongly covered. One of the dispatches
dated yesterday gave rumor of an engage
ment at Forbach, on the Rhine, nearly di-
rectly west of Metz, in which the Prussians
were defeated, they losing 5000 and the
has not been confirmed, and from what is
said about the affair in subsequent dss-
patches, it seems probable that an advanced
detachment of Prussians was driven back
while attempting to cross the Rhine for the
purpose of marching on Metz.
Another important rumor was that the
French troops had been recalled from Rome
Immediately after the decision of the Gcu-
menical Council on the infallibility dogma
was announced. This has been denied, and
it is stated that France has no intention what
ever of evacuating the papal territory. Should
she do so it is likely that an important COM
plication will be introduced into the problem
now in process of solution between the two
great contending powers. The Garibaldans
would be almost certain to attack Rome, and
the PRONUNCIATION of the dogma of the infalli-
bility of the Pope would be the
signal for the downfall of his
temporal power. The council has not
acted in all respects according to the wishes
of the French Emperor, and if he needs
troops upon the Rhine, it is very doubtful
whether he will care sufficiently for the Holy
Fathers safety and welfare to maintain a de-
tachment of good fighting men at Rome for
his protection, even if he has not already
given the Pope and his counsellors over to
their own devices and the tender mercies of
the Garibaldians.
With regard to the attitude of the various
powers of Europe the Paris dispatches state
that Austria, Italy, Denmark, and, strangely
enough, Spain, have either offered the
French their assistance or have expressed
their friendly feelings in such a way as to in
dicate that they may join in the attempt to
crush Prussia if their assistance is needed.
On the other hand it appears to be nearly
certain that Prussia is backed by the most
important of the German States, and that she
confidently relies upon the aid of Russia if
the war is at all prolonged.
Looking back at the past history of the two
nations, and looking forward to the probable
future, we on this side of the Atlantic regard
French Emperor to regain some of his lost
popularity, and to secure the stability of his
throne by hattering the military vanity of the
French people; while SO far as Prussia is con-
cerned, the aristocratic notions of her King
and Bismarck are of but little moment in
consideration of the benefits that are likely to
accrue to the cause of real liberty if an edu-
Gated and enlightened and law-abiding
nation, such as the Prussians assuredly are, can
gain the ascendancy in Central Europe. Both
nations are excited to the highest pitch of
enthusiasm by the declaration of war, for the
French people are jealous of the growing
power and importance of Prussia, while the
Prussians, thinking themselves clearly in the
right in the present contest, are not unwill-
ing to try to still further extend their power
by humbling France, and they have conse-
quently supported their monarch with an
unanimity that can only be paralleled by the
uprising of the loyal North in the spring of
1861.
Our own extensive experience with war
news will lead us to expect much of an in
definite and contradictory character to be
sent through the cables, especially at the in
ception OF great campaign; and although all
the dispatches thus far received are interest
ing and exciting, it is necessary to receive
their statements with considerable grains of
allowance. There has scarcely been time vet
for any decisive action on the part of either
of the hostile armies and there is very little
probability that general engagement will
take place for some days to come at least
There are well-trained soldiers and able and
experienced generals on both sides, and
whichever comes out of the contest victorious
the war promises to be one of exciting in
terest.
SYMPATHY FOR PRUSSIA.