DENMARK'S PREPARATIONS.

Otago Witness, Issue 50, 29 June 1861, Page 9

DENMARK'S PREPARATIONS.

The Danish ministry have resolved upon a measure for doubling the infantry force of the kingdom. The whole army is to be placed on a war footing. The commanders of 22 new battalions have been appointed. Troops are being sent into Schleswig. A letter from Copenhagen says:— "Our ships of war and our divisions of gunboats are sucessively- taking up the positions assigned to them in the ports and at different points of the coasts of Schleswig and of Holstein, so as to be able to act at the fitting moment, if Germany should really attempt to execute the threats which for three years she has kept suspended over the head of Denmark." The Germanic Confederation, with Prussia at its head, still threatens Denmark. But it has not as yet taken any active step. A telegraphic dispatch of the 28th of April says : — The Minister of Marine has, in the interest of the mercantile marine, issued an ordinance permitting the sailors lately oalled out to be sent on leave of absence, part of them at once, and part later. The ordinance stipulate!, however, that they may not go beyond, the

Baltic and the North Sea, in order that they may be recalled at the very shortest . notice. Orders have at the same time beea given for; the fitting out of one ship-of-the-line, one frigate, and a war steamer.