The Express.
London, England, 1864-03-09 00:00:00

Tfi . AUSTRIAN AND PI I:ASIAN FLEETS.

The Lori of SHAFTESBURY asked the Foreign—Searle
tart' whether he could give any information respecting the
movemeata of the Austrian gift toward the Baltic. I
thin's', my lords, said the noble earl, my memos for putting
this question will be sufficiently obvious. Never have I
known the people of England more orofouadly stirred
than the.: are on the present occasion. Never bevel kaown
exhibited • greater anxiety than in shown at the present
monies: in contemplAting the mine of the struggle between
the litt.e and gallant kingdom of Denmark aid its two
overgrown and powerful oppressors. It is fifty millions
agaicit two millions in that unequal contest. It is Yore
ottani,: that /Inland should And herself in oppositioa to
Austria and Ps ussia, the two great conservative moustabies
to whom she should look for peace and order, but from
whom she now expects nothing but condagration. Yet, my
lordi, 1.3 it is ; and we cannot but look wills dismay—and
ens sure the whole country feels what I
am ens ;ug— to see those powers return to their old career
of ann.:and spaliatiou. Now I must sue that the helmet
of that “iuutry have been much touched by the menden of
the Ki of Denmark. The concession which the King of
Demi-art has promised to make must be considered • suffi-
cient eparatiou for any wrong which has been committed.
It is net lineman to argue bete whether be was in the
right or wrong with reference to the patent of Holstein
or the constitution of Sleawig ; for be had agreed to snake
the utmost concessions. This little kingdom comas before
its mighty oppresaors and says, " Have patinas with me,
and I will me pa all;" hat instead of that they seise it by
the the invade its territory, inflict neon it unutterable
calami:es, and institute a war which I think every«ne
will for ..ititoonees and DOICUDINIDOSD, is one et the
mast ,i.sgraceful to be found in the pages of &whist
or v. dein history. My lords, it is very ominous
that is rookinetion with all this we bear that the
..1 fleet 11.11, been sent from their Adriatic porta and
is m ,:.ng its way to the Baltic. Perhaps it is singular that
we ,b bear of an Austrian fleet at all ; hat it is still
mor, that we should hear of it with any degree of niis-
givio4 oi alarm ; and therefore it is that I venture to put
to my aahle friend the question of which I have given notice.
I wed rake but just one more remark. We may receive
from tad uolde lard a reply, to the effect that the Austrian
feet is meet tour's is making its way to the Baltic. If it
be ea, tame nos he no doubt of it. destination, or of the
porp,,i for which it is to be employed. Or again, we may
be tel.:, that then are bat one or two ships only. But that
will be most uniatiafactory ; because we must regard those
one or two reseals as the precursors of • much larger force.
I do mt hesitate to say—and in saying it I do not stand
alone!_ England—that whether the force that Austria is
snubs; be great or small, I trust it will be met at the
mouth of the Baltic by the presence of a British fleet, that
fleet ...aviog instructions from her Majesty to watch its
movements, to restrict its *mations, and, if neemeary, to
dolling by force of arms she integrity—sod I will say the
sanctit?— of the kingdom and people of Denmark.
iII'SSELL—I will only answer my noble friend as to
the f .eta that have come to my knowledge with regard to
the &tertian of the Austrian government. When we lint
beard that ship, were to be mot from the Adriatic I wrote
to air minister at Vienna, and I inquired of the Austrian
1111111.......010, in I. nolo° as to the intentions with which they
wore to be sent. We were told at once that there were
many Austrian ships that were in danger from the
Danish ships in the Mediterranean and the Adriatic;
and that it was simemary to protect their commons. We
were told further that there were about 140 mercheat ships
belooging to Austria—or bearing the Austrian flag—which
were coming from America about this time, bound for Epp
dish porta ; nod that, therefore, it was the kinetics of the
Austrian government to send a few ships—two or three—to
the mouth of the Channel, in order to save these vessels
from the Danish cruiser that might be looking out for
them. Since that time, within these two days, further
rumours bate been circulated, and I hare received further
iafornuotioa. It is stated, in the first Place, that there is no
intent:on whatever of medusa any Austrian ships to the Bal-
tic or the Cattegat ; neither 3 it intended to send any naval
force. That is the statement of the Austrian government.
What they do say is that there is great danger, if a
blockade at the month of the Elbe is instituted, that a
great deal of Cerman commerce will fall into the Lauds of
the Danes ; and that they, therefons, think it necessary to
contribute au Austrian squadron in order to protect it.
Now, my lords', without stating at all what course shall be
pursued, or what may hereafter be found to be actually the
course which the Austrian govenitneat will pursue, I must
say that considering what the Austrian fleet is, aod consider.
Mc what the Danes are, for Austria in her position to mod
a fleet late the North Sea with • view to protect a nations.
lity oppressed by • foreign race,dose seem tome to be
which every true friend of Austria muss deplore, (Choate)
Toe Earle, ELLENBOROUGH—My lords. I wish I could
give the sense credit to the representations of the Aostriaa
government which I should willingly have does three
or foar months ago. (Hear, hear.) But whee I look
at her recent conduct with regard to the lona.). of Jutland
—her conduct in landing troops to effect the invasion of
Jutland and to form the siege of Fredericia..after she bad
given us reamn to suppose that her efforts were altogether
to Le coatioed to the occupation of Sleawig for a special
purpose—l conies., I must look at chances and probabilities
rather than at representations, and I must believe that that
Austrian fleet, in its whole force, is destined for the Bettie,
there to form a janction with the Prussian fleet, and there
to establish, an it will, a maritime superiority is addition to
the military superiority which they cow peewit If the
statements that are made with regard to the respective
strength of these fleets are correct, there can be no doubt dist
that will be the result of the arrival of the Mintiest fleet in
the f: iliac ; and keowirm. as we do. what will be the result
of this maritime superiority there, 1 cannot believe that
they will not effect their purposes. We are told—and I
supple. there can be no doubt about it—that this important
position of Duped. which protects the afters to the island
of Aloes, iv flanked right and left by bacish vessels of war.
lusted of Vanish vessels, let there he Austrian and Prussian,
and you will render the defence of it reedy impracticable.
Moreover, it is connected with the island of Alien by two
bridge,. These being under the fire of • superior fleet, they
would no hewer serve the purpose of those who have to de-
tract the fortifications. Viers can be no tenon to doubt
that within • short period after the arrival of that superior
fleet iu the neighbourhood of Alien the fortifications of
1 supped must fall. In themes. way, Federici& no lege depends
upon the protection of a fleet ; and Fredericia is nactically
Fiume, the second important island of Denmark. There
eau. therefore, be no doubt that if you allow Austria and
Prussia to have a maritime as well sea military superiority
in the Baltic, you sacrifice the independence, the very ex -
ismer.. of the Danish monarehy. (Cheers.) My lords, I
ask the noble earl—though he is unwilling to say what be
will do—whether he will stand by and se. that atrocity
perpetrated neon a weak power —(dsers)—soly because
she is weak. iftenewed cheers.) Consider only the se
of sued. • seams. This is • war avian Deem* in the