The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-10-05
Tho Condition Of Europe.

Germany lis certainly preparing for
war, that is most undoubtable. and her
preparations are vastly more formidable
than in 1865, or in the preceding war.
But whether all these preparations mean
the speedy outbreak of actual hostilities,
or whether Prussia is simply carrying
out the maxim, that he who would have
peace must bo prepared for war. is hard
to toll. The recent imperial interviews,
and particularly some threatening re-
marks which Bismarck has dropped of
late in regard to France, which he does
not believe sufficiently humbled, speak
for the frat; but the need of rest, which
is imperative for Germany as we'll rs for
France. makes it improbable that an Of
fensive movement on the part of the for
mer power will he made in the very next
future. It would be hard to decide upon
this delicate question, and we hardly
feel inclined to venture upon the field Of
conjecture in this matter. But however
that may be, there is no doubt that the
German Government strains every nerve
to put her armament into such shape
as to Withstand any attack, from what-
ever quarter it may como. German Of
ficers. in disguise or otherwise, are busy
examining all improvements introduced
into the military establishments Of the
different countries of Europe, and we
hear on all sides of German activity in
this regard. New railroads for military
purposes are being constructed with a
feverish haste all over the German EN-
pire, and everything is calculated for
the purpose of losing the least possible
time in case of sudden outbreak of
hostilities. The fortresses aro being ex-
tended and armed with improved nrtil-
lery and provisioned for many months.
Particularly in the newly acquired pro-
vinces OF Alsace and Lorraine this ac-
tivity liz most apparent. The vast num-
ber Of fortresses which are so thickly
sown over that county are rapidly being
put in state of defence, and the forti-
6cations 80 formidable already will be
greatly extended. The terrible lines of
defence around Strasburg and Metz,
which withstood the Germans So long.
sink into insignificance in comparison
with the gigantic Notifications that nre
being raised around thom, aud which
will take, particularly the former city,
out Of range of hostile guns, and mako
q bombardmont such us it suffered in
the preceding year impossible. But this
is not enough. Another formidable Cir
die of fortresses is being built in advance
of these, on the very border line Of
France, defending every inlet into Ger
many. Every pass through the hilIy
country which could serve for the trans
port of artillery will be guarded by this
bristling belt, and an advance of the
French into German territory will be
rendered thus most difficult
While the defences on the Western
border line, toward France, are being
put in such m excellent state, the forti-
fications on the German sea- coast are
equally an object of the solicitude of tile
German Government. The navy Of the
Empire is increased rapidly aud with ex-
cellent vessels. But III the present state
Of the German commerce aud the want
Of colonies does not warrant Germany in
keeping at present fleet of the first
rank, more attention is paid to vessels of
defence than to sea-going vessels. In
the PTussian Baltic ports are being con
structed, at present, IN immense number
of torpedo boats, which, to Judge from
the description OF trustworthy spectn
tors, are most formidable engines of dc
struction. Particularly three of these
bnilt on Il grnnder scale ut Dantzic, if we
may believe judges who have examined
them carefully. are, in themselves cnpa-
ble of destroying nh entire fleet. They
hIo mOVGu W pctIOlcutu. AuQ CuC tOrDo-
does are filled with substance Of still
greater destructivcness than nitro -glyce-
rine.
The Gase1e, OF Moscow. tho organ of
the old Russian party or tho orthodox
native clement Of Russia, in recent mr.
tiole OH this subject, gives some interest
ing figures. which possess all the more
interest us they give comparison be-
tween the maritime defences of Germany
aud Russia. It calls particular attention
to the advantages Germany will derive
from the two naval ports Of Wilhelmsha-
fen and kiel, which are t be connected
by maritime ship canal, establishing a
direct connection between the Baltic and
the North Sea. This would enable Ger
many to combine her Baltic squadron
with that Of the North Sea. or to trans
fer the one to the other without being
obliged to make the dangerous and tedi-
Gus route of the Sound. Another ad-
vantage Of Germany is that her princi-
pal sea-ports, such as Koenigsberg,
Dantzc, Stettin, Rostock, Lubbock
Hamburg and Bremen, by their inland
position, are sufficiently protected by
some coast batteries. and do not require
much of defensive feet In Russia,
on the other hand, says the above named