The New York herald., 1870-09-08

~ THE FIELD ON THE RHINE.
-~~~~>~-~~~->~~~~~~~
special Journoy Along tho German Side
OF tho Rhino--Interview with n Prussinu
tsencral-Past Victories and Future Tri.
umpas-The Prussian Army Spy System
A wonderful Organization --Pruss;an Officers
Disguised az Servants In Paris-NapoleOu
and sincn1ahon's First Plan Found Out
by One of Them-eLndics" Of the Dcmi-
Niondo in tsie German spy service-What a
'.I'raii ssistor" Accomplished-Yhc Prussian
soldicr in mn Enemy's Country.
FORTRESS OF RAsTADT. !
RIGHT BANK OF TIE RHINE August IL, 1870.
When about to leave Carsruhe this morning, II,
order TO reach Base, and re-enter France one OF
those incidents which happen so rarely IN real lie
occurred to me. A Prussian oHlcer of high rank
happened to see my name In the book at Crosse 8
HOTEL In Carisruhe and sent up his card saying ne
wished to speak to me. When he came up stairs no
asked whether was the same person who
had ten years ago, assisted hts brother out of
a difficulty In Constantnople The help had becn
able to afford the young man was really 80 slight
and so many years had since passed, that had
almost forgotten all about 1t. However, upon nav
ing the circumstances called to mind recollected
perfectly, and told the General SO He begged to
know, after thanking me over and over again. in
once turned the offer into journalistic capital by ask
ing to let me accompany him in tour no was making
lie at once agreed, and In his society have this day
seen all that can be OF this the German side Of
the Rhine-endlng with the fortress Of Rastadt
although we are going on farther tonight, being
bound for Basle and thence back to France, as I
hope to be present at the great battle still impending
In Lorraine or Champagne. But must here pre-
mise that very much OF tile information
given me by my Prussian acquaintance am
unable to make use OF, having promised not to do
sO as II might compromise him. Nevertheless
believe that at liberty to publish nearly every
thing that can interest your readers, and TO give
them, on the eve OF my leaving Southern Germany.
several details not hitherto known connected with
the war.
TIE FORTRESS or RAsTADT-Irs POSITION AND
ARMAMENT.
The fortress on which find myself at once ex-
plains the great dlcuty the French would have, had
they crossed the Rhine anywhere near Strasbourg
in getting into the plains of the Grand Duchy. The
place is very strong one, and, although the Ortid-
cations are on q level with the oatdttch, 1t coud
hold its own II properly provisloned. for many
months.
II has some fifty pieces OF ordnance mounted on
the ramparis, which very little higher than the
ditch No troops could take II Without very long
siege and desperate assault. Like most OF the
strong places in Southern Germany, it is garlsoned
alternately by Prussian, Saxon, Bavarian and Baden
troops. Those now holding the place belong to
the latter army. Rastadt completely commands
from the right bank OF the Rhine to the confines OF
the Black Forest, rendering 1t all but impossible Tor
any enemy's army to get from any higher part OF
the Rhine-that IS, from any part nearer the Swiss
irontier-t0 the plains beyond Baden taden or to
the less open country near Carlsruhe. In fact
having seen Rastadt and witnessed what strong
place it IS, began to understand why IL was that
the French had hesitated long about crossing the
Rhine at SrasOourg. The fortress IA not large ono
by any means The actual number OF the garrison
am bound In honor not to give. But this much l
may say. that It IS fully manned and amply pro.
vsloned to stand siege OF four or hye months at
the very least.
ON THE RAILaOAD-Born BANKS OF THE RHINE
Soon after leaving Rastad: the train III which we
were travelling was shunted aside 70 allow OF
military tram passing US. This latter had q regl-
ment Of Bavaran troops, about three thou and
strong, as well as the last guns OF the siege train,
destined for the reduction OF SrasoOurg. BY the
destination hundreds OF fascnes and Of engineering
TOOLS meant TO help the reduction OF that Fortress
perceive the tower Of strasbourg cathedral quite
plainly. There appeared to be great deal OF smoke
about the town. nut no snot or shells were being fired
above Khel, which Is exactly opposite StrasbOurg,
there not Prussian soldier to be seen the ono
bank nor French soldier on the Other. All the
former appear TO have been required iOr the attack
and ali the latter for the defence OF Strasboug That
the siege OF the place vii! be carried with vigOr
and that 1t viii be equally blavely defended there
can hardly now be a doubt.
The siege guns which saw this morning going to
Khe Will be used to attack StrasbOurg from the
German side of the river; and from the fascncs
going on this side, too presume they will be sent
commenced between that and the town, which Is u
distance OF four Kilometres or three English miles
from the river.
PRUSsIAN ACCOUNT or THE GERMAN PREPARATIONs-
ALMOST CERTAIN OF rRIUaPH.
The Prussian officer with whom ! travelled this
morning gave me some curious details AZ to what
the Prussians expected the French to do up to tue
30th OF July. He quito confirmed the statement
gave you the other day on the fatl. of an official
was the intention OF Prussia from the very first to
attack the French army on French soil. But he
they could, and that up to- the aotn OF July
they were not ready. But if, my. friend said,
any day up 70 the @ or sls n of July the Frenc6
corps like MacMahons had crossed the frontier be-
tween Wissembourg and Luxembourg there was
hothng whatever TO prevent the French from march,
ing straight upon Mayence and Frankfort. In his
opinion even this amount OF success might have made
the y result Of The
or the present MONTH Up to the last day Of July the
Prussians, as my informant told me, were not ready
the date OF the proclamation OF the war was what
their administrative military departments required
TO get everything ready, ana they Kept their word.
On the S1st July everything was reported at Berlin
as ready.
ON the I'd August every commander of a Prussian
army corps got his orders what he was to do.
On the 4th the blow was struck at WIssembOurg,
on the 9th the battle of WOerth was fought, and
since then the Prussian army has never delayed o
day dealing blow upon blow on the retreatIng
enemy.
NAPOLEoN's PLANS DISCOUNTED.
My, friend, for although had only known him a
few hours must Call him such, gave me some very
interesting information respecting the means by
which the Prussian stan has obtained such accurate
knowledge OF all that was doing In France He told
me that the spy system with mis- government is
regular organization, and that as the service Ia
desperate one it is well rewarded, il successful,
almost the very words OF letter 1 wrote you
shortly alter the battle Of Woerth (Which, by the
give reason, or rather many reasons, why the
French were defeated at that fight. He said that