It is useless to speculate on the first movements in
such a war, but it may be well to note three points. The Prussians must be well prepared, or they would be in much more of a fluster than is at present perceptible. Secondly, it was resolved, as we were informed during the progress of the Luxemburg negotiation, that Prussia, if forced to war, would take the initiative, and endeavour to wage the war on French territory, marching direct on Paris. It is not likely, with the Prussian capital so far off, and the Southern troops ready to take a French invader in flank, -that Count von Moltke will play a purely defensive game. Thirdly, all previous rumours concur to suggest that the French Govern- ment entertains a project of making Denmark a base of opera- tions, thus striking straight at the very heart of the Federation, while enabling any disaffected Hanoverians to rise. It is pro- bable that the French Government, misled by a class, overesti- mates the discontent in Hanover, and nearly certain that it under- rates the German strength at sea.
