The War Comedy (Schleswig-Holstein)

* Schleswig-Holstein. Indeed, the annals of all history
No. 5, 5 June 1848
Neue Rheinische Zeitung.
can show no such campaign, no so striking an interplay between armed force and diplomacy as our unitary-German-national war with little Denmark now presents! The great deeds of the old Imperial army with its six hundred commanders, general staffs and war councils, the mutual chicanery of the commanders of the coalition of 1792, the orders and counter-orders of the late Imperial-Royal War Council, all that is serious, moving and tragic compared with the military comedy which the new German Federal army is at present staging amid the resounding laughter of all Europe in Schleswig-Holstein.

Let us briefly follow the plot of this comedy.

The Danes advance from Jutland and land troops in North Schleswig. The Prussians and Hanoverians occupy Rendsburg and the Eider line. The Danes, despite all German boastings a swift, courageous people, attack quickly and by means of a battle drive the Schleswig-Holstein army back onto the Prussians. These look on calmly. At last, the order to advance comes from Berlin. The united German troops attack the Danes and crush them near Schleswig by sheer force of numbers. The victory is decided especially by the skill with which the Pomeranian Guardsmen, as formerly at Großbeeren and Dennewitz, wield the butt-end. Schleswig is reconquered and Germany exults over the heroic deed of its army.

Meanwhile the Danish fleet—counting not twenty ships of significance in all—captures the German merchantmen, blockades all German ports and covers the crossings to the islands, to which the army retires. Jutland is abandoned and partly occupied by the Prussians, who impose a contribution of 2 million specie. But before a single thaler of the contribution has been received, England makes mediation proposals on the basis of a withdrawal and the neutrality of Schleswig, and Russia sends threatening notes. Mr. Camphausen promptly walks into the snare, and upon his orders the victory-drunk Prussians retreat from Vejle to the Kongeå, to Hadersleben, to Apenrade, to Flensburg. Immediately the Danes, who had previously vanished, are back again; they pursue the Prussians day and night, they cause disorder in their retreat, they land at all corners, defeat the troops of the Tenth Federal Corps at Sundeved and yield only to superior numbers. The engagement of 30 May was again decided by the butt-ends, this time swung by the honest fists of the Mecklenburgers. The German inhabitants flee with the Prussians, the whole of North Schleswig is abandoned to devastation and plundering, and in Hadersleben and Apenrade the Dannebrog flies once more.

One sees that Prussian soldiers of all ranks in Schleswig obey orders just as well as in Berlin.

Suddenly an order comes from Berlin; the Prussians are again to advance. Now it's merrily forward again to the north. But the comedy is still far from over. We shall wait and see where the Prussians will receive the order to retreat this time.

In short, it is a veritable country dance, a military ballet, which the Camphausen ministry has staged for its own pleasure and for the glory of the German nation.

Let us just not forget that the lighting of the stage is provided by burning Schleswig villages, and the chorus by the vengeful yells of Danish marauders and guerrillas.

The Camphausen ministry has proved in this affair its lofty calling to represent Germany abroad.

Schleswig, twice abandoned to Danish invasion through its fault, will retain the first diplomatic experiment of our “responsible” ministers in grateful remembrance.

Let us trust to the wisdom and energy of the Camphausen ministry!