The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-05-01
.FOREIGN ITEMS.

Ill az Wuhelmshohe, has Just appeared at
Brussels. 1t does not contain anything new
as regards the North German army, but the
position of its author gives a special interest
to some remarks he makes on the causes of
the French defeats. ''Before the misfortunes
of 1870" he says ''no weight was attached to
the opinion of those who declared that the
military organization of our country stands
in no relation to its political status.
Before the campaign of 1870 the Artillery
Committee would not admit that the material
of the Prussian artillery was more complete
and practical than ours, and the Engineer
Committee declared that our fortresses
were not too numerous, and that they
wore in a condition to resist the rev
artillery. 1t would not allow that one-hHlf of
our fortresses must be razed and the other
half rebuilt in accordance with the system
which has made Antwerp one of the first fort
resses ins the world. 1t required such sad
events as those we have witnessed to make
General Cofinieres-a general of engineers
admit before a council of war that Metz could
not Withstand siege of fourteen days if it
lost the protection of Marshal Bazaine's
army. Before the campaign of 1870 the mill
tary administration obstinately opposed the
views of those who advised that the country
should be divided into districts, each with a
corps dd7Daee capable of providing itself with
every requisite for the field in its own dis
trict." In another passage, after highly
praising the discipline of the Prussian
army, the ex-Emperor proceeds
Between the leading principle of the
Prussian army, which looks upon the will of
the King was the highest law, and the injuri-
GUS maxims which prevail among us, there is
a wide interval. What do we hear on every
occasion 4 serve my country, not an indi-
vidual; and this phrase, which is supposed to
elevate ones personal dignity, is really only
mask for all disloyslty, skeptioism, and
hrA oh IF Off Tn flo
sovereign is the oommsnderin-chiefo of the
army, and every man under the flag serves
him and owes him obedience and loyalty, for
the sovereign represents the whole nation.
Without this principle there is neither disci-
pline nor order in the ranks, nor security for
society,""
An articlein the e'ANgemeineZeitungs sharply
crltlclzes the present organization of the Ger
man navy. The author says that the naval
administration, from its chief downwards, is
'hemmed in between the army on the one
side and the bureaucracy on the other.
Its commander-in-chief is a general; the most
important posts of the department are held
by pensioned army intendants and other
landsmen; SO that with the exception of a
few of the younger and more influential men,
the director of the office, Admiral Jachmann
is alone capable of giving due influence to
the opinions of these who have q practical
acquaintance with naval affairs. This ac-
counts for the lukewarmness and in
difference with which the department
conducts its business" The writer proceeds
to show that during the war the want
of Minister of Marine was constantly felt,
the War Minister. General Won Roon having
found it impossible to attend to the army in
France and to the fleet in the North Sea as
well. As to the officers, "there are doubtless
distinguished men among them, but a
thorough awakening of their professional
spirit would do no HARM" The article fur
ther points out that there has been a stagua.
tion of promotion in the navy, owing to vacan-
cies (of which there are several in the estab-
lishments of most ships on active service) not
having been filled up, and that the pay of the
officers, and especially of the surgeons, chap
lains, engineers, and paymasters, is much
too low.
On the subject of explosive cartridges a
correspondent of the idH Mall Gazette writes
as follows-You will doubtless remember a
certain vigorous despatch, published some
months ago, in which Count Bismarck ac-
cused the French troops of some practices
contrary to the usages of civilized warfare;
among other things of firing explosive bull
lets and bullets cut up into small pieces.
Bearing this in mind, Twas surprised the
other day to meet with the two folio wing pas
sages in well-known standard German mill
tary works:-1. In the twelfth edition of
''OrgdnlZatlOn ana infantry service OF the
Royal Prussian Army" by Lieutenant Gene
raj A. Won Witzleben, published at Berlin
in 1871, and founded upon "Regula-
tions for the Instruction of Troops in Field
Service, etc." dated June, 1870, we find
it stated at page 334 (volume y, in the in
structions for the attack of isolated buildings,
that ''the explosive cartridges served out to
infantry are peculiarly applicable to this ser.
vice." presume that explosive cartridges
(explositions- -patronen) can only mean car.
tridges containing explosive bullets. 2. In
the first volume of 'Bushbeck's Manual fol
Officers of All Arms" published at Berlin in
1869, we find at page "a description of the
various patterns of small-arm ammunition
including 'buckshot cartridges" (Rephosteu
patronen), (which contain six buckshot il
addition to the ordinary bullet which would
certainly be as destructive and unusual a.
Lullets cut up into small pieces. suppose tina
neither explosive bullets nor buckshot cart
ridges were used by the Germans in the lat,
war; but if it be true that they still manufac
ture and issue these missiles, the use of which
is particularly recommended to their officer
on certain occasions, l think that some day
we shall read despatch in which Prince Bis
marck will inform us that it cannot with jus
tice be said that the employment of thes
projectiles is contrary to the ''rules of war;
True, there was the convention of st. Peters
burg, which Prussia signed, but it can easil
be shown that circumstances have altered
The st. Petersburg Cabinet has taught tina
much.
Not many months ago, writes a CORES
pondent Of an English paper, the paw of al
Government employees in Egypt was reduced
and now they have to give up per cent. O
their reduced salary new fay of sop,,