The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-05

Upon and the Limo OF FOrt1ncathOhs
Changed.
The subject Of an alteration Of the strategic line
Of defence OF the German Empire has engaged the
anxious attention of Emperor Williams Ministers
and Of the German Parliament since the close OF
the war with France The conquest which Ger
many reaped from that great struggle in large
addition Of new soil has. indeed, rendered From
tier line OF typographical and military engineering
rectifcation absolutely necessary at the War ONCE
in Berlin. The subject has not been neglected
The Committee of Fertilization OF the Empire OF
Germany decided few weeks since on the meas
ures tie be adopted for carrying out a new system
of national defence. The main features OF the re-
port are as fOllows:-
The following fortresses are to be suppressed at
an early misunderstanding tBadsnl, Minden
(Westphalia), Erfurt Uhuringen), WittemDerg
(saxony), stettin and Goldberg, (Pomerania), Grau-
(Slesa). The works will not be demolished imme-
diately, but the committee will no longer maintain
those localities as fortified towns inc cases OF
Neuf-Brsach, Wurzburg- CuStrin and BOyen (East-
ern Prussa) remain under consideration Schles-
tadt, Mtchtenberg, Lutzelsten, Marsal, Phals-
fortified places Immediately. The places which
are to be transformed according to the
new system OF Notifications are Metz, Die
Cologne, Vessel, Gogau, Thorn, Posen,
ana KJnigsberg. Bramberg, hitherto an open
town, will become a fortress The works lot the
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF Metz and Strasburg are already
commenced; those OF Mayence Will only be under.
taken in the Spring OF the present year. AS Will
be seen by the above indications, the German plan
of defence Is concentrated on the western ana
eastern frontier and on the coast OF the Baltic ana
North Seas. The Ministry will not ask Tor any
supplementary credit tor the works of ratification,
the present 1unds being sufhcient Tor those COM
menced. At Mayence the expense will be pro-
visionay met by the sale OF ground. The cost OF
twenty-seven new field batteries will be covered by
the ordinary budget.
GREAT WORK OF NAVAL CANALIZATION.
It Is announced that the Prussan government
has definitely decided upon the construction Of
canal which is to connect together the North Sea
and the Baltic. Plans Of the works required have
posed of German engineers and superior officers
appointed to examine the plans on the spot, 80 as
to make what alterations may be required. me
members of the commission are expected at klel
Russia, 1t has been alleged, regards the project
with considerable jealousy, as means by wmcn
Prussian influence may be extended in the north or
Europe. Evidently Kie, which is the headquarters
OF the Imperial German fleet, Is destined to assume
great Importance.
Stock Exchanges Financferfng To BE
Taxed-The Roman Catholic EpiscO-
pacy and the Crown.
BERLIN. Feb. 4, 1873
Prince Bismarck has submitted to the committee
of the Federal Council bill imposing taxes on
transactions in stock exchanges.
CATHOLIC EPISCOPAL PROTEST TO THE CROWN.
The Roman Catholic bishops have addressed q
memorial to the Emperor protesting against the
passage of the Ecclesiastical bill now before the
nSaf