Year: 1870

ments against Prussia, or participation in the operations of the French army. THE UNITED STATES IN THE PRESENT CRISIS. If the latest reports by telegraph are true, a French fleet may soon attack the islands ol Cuba and Porto Rico, with view. toward securing possession Of these cclo7'es This is a measure. which we must look forward to in the course of the war, for the generally adopted principles of modern warfare legalize the capture of the enemy's territory or prop e-ty in whichever part of the world 1t may be found so long as it can be acquired with out infringing on the rights of neutrals. If France attacks the Antilles, it IS said the United States Government will interfere The probability, however, is that Napoleon will not care about creating for himself new and powerful enemy by giving offense to the United States, and that he will not at present issue an order to attack the Spanish islands in the West Indies.

 THE ACTUAL WAR MOVEMENT.

 We are informed that French troops have left Paris for the Rhine, and that the Prus- sian army is concentrating in the vicinity of Triers and Mayence. The latter place is strong fortress, and likely to become the most important one in s stragetical point of view. General Moltke, the same officer who

 

 1S66 has his headquarters at that place, and is again invested with the very responsible position of Commsnder-in-C of the Ger man armies. France will be the aggressive power, and it is believed that part of the French army have already crossed the Rhine and invaded German territory This is just what Bismarck and the military authorities of Prussia wish for the invading army always labors under difficulties of which the oppo- site party knows nothing With a wide river like the Rhine, extraordinary precautions have to be taken by the commander of large army in order to keep his retreat oper, and the consequences are apt to be most disas- trous if any delay occurs in the eventuality of an evacuation of the enemy's country. The Prussians are aware of their advantage in that respect, and will be quite willing to see the war mainly carried on in the territory bordering on the Rhine. The operations of the French win suit the ambition of the French army and people. The Rhine provin- ces, situated on the left bank of the river, are what Napoleon is striving to possess. He desires to establish what is called the natural boundary, and the easiest way for him 10 accomplish it will be the occupation of that part of Germany, provided the Prussian army allows him to operate extensively in that direction. The Emperor is to take the field in person, as Commander-in Chief; but Gen eral MacMahon seems to be the man who will take the lead in the coming campaign. He is ably assisted by General Leboeuf; and if we compare the two armies, which will soon meet for death struggle it is hard to say which will gain the upper hand. They are both splendidly drilled and we'll armed their leaders are men of experience and knowledge, and whatever the science of wholesale killing can do is sure not to be neglected in the coming struggle At first the chief attention will be concentrated on the Rhine, but it is very likely that the ports situated on the Baltic-s, in fact, all the German ports-will be more or less affec. ted by the conflict The French fleet of Brest has sailed with sealed orders, so as to make descent on some of the more accessi- ble ports of North Germany.

 THE ARMY AGAINST SPAIN.

 An army corps has been detached for oper. ations along the Spanish frontier It doe: not promise to play an important part just al present, unless the Spanish authorities fee strong enough to risk an open encounter witt French troops, which is rather unlikely, fo the cream of the Spanish army is in Cuba and it is therefore probable that Spain vii keep herself on the defensive, and wait fol the development of events before she takes prominent part in military operations.

 

 THE PRUssIAN NEEDLE-GUN

 This weapon, which was used so effectiyel, by the Prussians in the war with Austria was invented as long ago as lSO9 by Pauli and later, in 1927, needle-gun, similar tC the one adopted by the Prussians, was sub mitted to the Russian Government by Johr Nicholas Dreyse, but not adopted. It was , muzzle-loader, but it embraced the needl, and the illuminate which constitute the prin cipal features of the present needle-gun Dreyes was encouraged by Frederick William II. of Prussia to continue his experiments and in 1886 he perfected the present needle gun, which may now be considered the na tional firearm of Prussia. It is somewhat complicated in it's construction, and obiec tionable on some accounts, but is nevertheless very effective weapon, and is preferred by many military men to any other in use. The length of the Prussian gun, including tho bayonet, is six feet four inches, being tho longest in use in Europe. The barrel has four grooves, the spiral of rihing being one turn in forty inches, which is nearly twice that of the Enfield rife. The weight of the solid ball is 451 grains, and of the charge oi powder sixty-iye grains. The piece is dis. charged by means of needle attached to A bolt, with small iron knob upon it instead Of a hammer. This knob is portion of the breech which can either be turned in the cyl. indrical breech-receiver, or be made to slide longitudinally. The cartridge, which is en. cased in paper, is inserted at the breech The powder is first placed in the bottom of the paper case, then follows compressed paper sabot, which cleans the bore of the pun and in which is fitted the bullet. The fuimi- nate is placed in front of the gunpowder, and between it and the sabot The needle is attached to the needle bolt, which slides with