Gen. Sheridan On The European War

Gen. Sheridan is n excellent health. [is i'orcign tour has increased his woight matorially, and ho appears considorably mprovcd otherwise. Ho ia more jocose lan ever, and when mirthful, seems tö augh all over his face and body simul;aneously. He will reraain hero but a 'ew days, and then goes to Washington. His views upon tho European war are lost interosting and valuable. Ho has ravelod over a very large extent of tho onteeted lorritory, and cxamiued many t' the forts, eaithworkB and etrongholds. Ie was prusent at several of the princial battlo fields, lncluding Gravellotte, Sedan, and various loealities around Metz. While abroad he has met with the most cordial and distinguished attention ïom all thu authorities, and received especial and marked courtesies from the Smperor of Germany, King William, and his royal suit He is very careful and considérate in the expression of opinión upon the merits and comparison of the geven] national armies. " Why," he said, ia rusponso to a question from our reporter, " it is not an easy thing to say who lights best. They are all good soldiers. But there is a wonderful diíforence in their respective peculiarities. The Germans are treruendously stubborn, and stand fire like a wallofstoue. ThoFrench are more full of dash." He does not niciki' auy invidious eomparisons. The grand success of the Germans, he says, was partly owing to the excellent trainin;; their oificers have received ia their military schools, and to the splendid discipline of their men. Tho same thing may be claimed for the French. It is a woiuIlt that the latter have stood out as long as they have. Their reverses are not due to a laek of prowess or skilled officers, but political trouble3 at home. Place both of those nations in the same prospjrous state they were five years ago, and the present situation might be very greatly changed. Then, again, there is the questiou of arms; The neodle-gun is of immoiiso power. So is the Chassepot. But these do not excel a perfect gun of our " Springfield " pattern. It is not fair to hasty conelusions in these watters. The campaigns there were not comparable to those of our lato war. It has oten mapped out and surveyed, almost to tlie foot, for warlike operations. It is all known, Tho roads are older and better than ours. The territory is moie thickljr populated and the battle-fielda in closer eontiguity. Their base OÍ supplies and o!iji:ctive points are of easier rurige. Besides, they havo made war a scienco fot centuries. Military schools abound. Their soldiers are more absolutely sub3ervient than ours. They have drilled reserves ready at all times - even in peace. Our country is immense, with inferior and scíittered roads. The territory is not wt'll known. W'o have but one military school with a small number of púpils, and a small standing ariny. But la warlike operations they have more red tapo than we. There are many improvements sugjíi'it 1 to ns by their systems. But after all, there is no suoh material as is found in American armies. They are composed ot' every national ingrediënt, and have much eminent talent in tu t'oroign schools Von Moltke is a m m of tremsndous will. He moves large bodies of men with rare suceess and handles them splendidly. He carries out his plans as a man recites something thoroughly committed to memory. Tne King, too, has a superb judgment. The beauty of the Prussian military mind is its great carefulness. It is never hfisty nor ill-advised. Postibly, at Metz, had the French people a strong government, and had their military leaders been of the oíd Napnleonic forcé and dash, the fortune of war might now be vastly changed. Place those anuies here and the} would be nonplussed at the topographical difficulties we overéame There is nothiug like our army for our work. We have an excellent system ; but it needs changes and can be vastly benefitted by some of the European ex ampie!