Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1871-06-03
The European War.
vIEws or aENEnAL snlnlnAN.


Gen. Phil. Sheridan arrived in New
York by steamer from Europe, on the
10th inst. y New York Times reporter
who interviewed him says:
His views upon The European war are
most interesting and valuable. lie ha,
travelled over very large extent Of the
contested territory, and examined many
of the forts, earth works, and strongholds
He was present at several Of the princi-
pal battle fields including GravcIlottc,
Sedan and various localities aroundMetz
While abroad he has met with the most
cordial aud distinguished attentions from
all the authorities, and received special
and marked cOurti-ies from the Emporer
Of Germany, King William, and bis roy
al suite. He is careful and cousidcrale
in his expression Of opinion upon the
merits aud comparison Of the several ma
tlonal armies. Why he said, in q res
ponse TO question from our reporter.
1T is not an easy thing to say who iights
best. They are all good soldiers. But
there is a wonderful difference in their
respective peculiarilics The Germans
are tremendously stubborn aud stand
fire like a stone wall. The French are
more full Of DASH RE does not MAKE
any invidious comparisons. The grand
success Of the Germans. he says. was
partly owing to the excellent training
their officers have' received in their mill
tAry schools, & to the splendid di,c pline
Of their men. The sam. thing may be-
claimed for the French. 1t is a woLd !
that the latter rcycrscs q G not due TO q
lack Of powers or skilled officers, but po-
litlcal troubles at home. Place both OF
those nations in the same prosperous
state they were in five years ago, and
the present situation might be very
greatly changed. Then, again, there IL
he question Of arms. The recdle-guh
is Of immense power. So is the chase
| pot. But these do not excel perfecl
gun of our Springfield pattern. 1t is no,
tair to draw hasty conclusions in these
matters The campaigns there were not
comparable to those of our late war
Their country is an old one. It has been
mapped out and surveyed, almost TO the
foot, for warlke operations. 1t is al,
known. The roads are older and better
than ours. The territory is more thick
| Iy populated and the battle fields in clos
er contiguity. Their base of supplies aud
objective points are Of easier range. Be
sides they have made war a science fol
centuries. Military schools abound
Their soldiers are more absolutely sub
servient than ours. They have drilled
reserves read y at all tines-even in peace
Our country is immense with inferior
and scattered roads. The territory il
not well lnjwn We have but enc mill
tary school, with small number Of pu-
pills, and a small standing army. But il
warlike operations they have more red
tape than we. There are many improve
ments suggested to us by their systems.
But, after all, there is no such material
rs is found in the American armies.-
They are composed of every national in.
yredient, and have much eminent taenJ
from foreign schools. Won Moltke is Il
man of tremendous Inherent will. lie
moves large bodies of men with rare sue
cess, aid haudl IS them splendidly. II,
carries out his plans as a man recite,
something Il o"oughIy committed It
memory. The King, TOO, has superl
Judgment. The beauty of the Prussiar
military mind is III its great carefulness
1t is never hasty or ill-advised. Possibly
at Metz, had the French people strong
er government, and had their military
leaders been of the old Napoleouic forcc
and dash, the fortune of the war might
be vastly changed. Place those armie,
here and they would be nonpus>ed at the
typographical difficulties we overcame
There Is nothing like our armies for oul
work. We heve an excellent system
but it needs changes and eau be vastly
benefited by some Of the European eX-
amples.