THE BATTLE OF BERLIN.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VII, Issue 37, 12 February 1872, Page 4

THE BATTLE OF BERLIN.

o CFrom the London Daily Telegraph). In "The Battle of Berlin" (Die Schalacht von Koeningsberg), by Metley Ranks M'Cauley (Tinsley Brothers), we have an exceedingly clever specimen of a style of jeu d* esprit which has recently come into vogue, and of which " Dame Earopa*s School " was the first, but hardly the ablest, specimeu . " The Battle of Dorking" was doubtless finer, for

the sense of art was more completely hidden in a surprising circumstantiality of detail and a marked soberness of statement, i In " The Battle of Berlin " we have some of the best qualities of both these writings, and some which are peculiar to itself. I The satire, although very effective, is always delicate aud restrained, never showing itself in anything approaching to coarse or "loud" writing. The peculiar fun of the thing chiefly arises from the contrast felt between the clear, vigorous, ! dignified style, and the half-visionary nature of the topics, of which the reader is periodically reminded by distinguished persons starting up before him in the most extraordinary places and relations. The object of this remarkable brochure is to expose the dangers that wait upon an aggrandising policy such as is likely to be encouraged in the Prussian Royal mind by recent successes — or perpaps to ridicule the fears that are felt for this result. To show the fate that waits on ambition the author feigns that the Germans determine on seizing Heligoland, which of course precipitates an Anglo-German war. " The Emperor raised his eyes heavenward, and, in a deep voice of real or assumed piety, exclaimed, ' The flock is not complete while one lamb remains without the fold. The Lord has given us Heligoland, and we must work the will of the Lord," On this Sir Odo Russell quits the room and hurries home to England. Public excitement there soon rises to something like a fever. "The Right Hon. W. E. Forster, Minister of Public Education, is appointed to supervise the press during the war, with the public consent, and indeed at the private request, of the conductors of the principal journals, so that the contents of these papers might, in effect, be regarded as official." Viscount Gladstone, in the Lords — for Mr. Disraeli, with Lord Derby, is once more in power — moves that during the war Volunteers should have the same privileges and pensions as the regular troops. France, under the Due d'Aumale and Gambetta, is inclined to increase its crops rather than retrieve its lost territory, and pledges itself to a strict neutrality. The war is begun, and very soon there is a revolution in Germany, and a Republic is declared — Jacoby and Liechardt coming to the front. The Emperor flees from Berlin; and FieldMarshal Von Moltke, Generals Von Roon, Von Falken stein, Von Steinmetz, and Von Werder, as well as a host of minor notabilities, are taken prisoneis, and, refusing to swear allegiance to the Republic, are placed under strict confinement. The Council of the Republican League for a while holds all power. There is a determined civil war berween the forces of the Republic and those which still follow the | fortunes of the Emperor. A force of troops — British, Belgian, and Dutch — crosses the frontier as the civil war waxes warm ; and the Republicans celebrate its arrival. A series of victories is the result; Lord Napier, who is in commmand, j being able to mingle business with pleasure, but liking to take the business first. The Emperor of Russia, from motives of his own, takes Emperor William's side, and sends over a horde of Cossacks to help him to regain his throne. They concentrate on the eastern frontier ; and thus comes about ■ the battle of Koenigsberg, often called the Batle of Berlin, because of 'the tremendous issues that were then decided . The Hoheozollern dynasty, that had consolidated so vast a power, was there made an end of ; and whilst Republicanism reigns in Europe, the ere-while Emperor of Germany, "in a little villa near Mel-

bourne, only nominally in the custody of the Government, meditates upon the reverses of fortune. His aged eyes look upon a New World — the Old World, which he did so much to disturb, has passed from his sight for ever." Truth is stranger that fiction. Had anyone written in this style 20 yeara ago concerning what the French designs upon the Rhine might lead to, it had been altogether as laughable as this extravaganza. It is impossible to give any just idea by extracts of this extremely amusing, yet powerfully written satire. We can only recommend it to the public as likely to afford pleasure.