The Express.
London, England, 1859-06-20 00:00:00

CONDON, MONDAY, JOND 20.

Tn s. telegrams we paWish from the seat of war
bid us prepare to receive intelligence of important
military events. The retreat of the Austrians has
brought them to their reaerves on the Mincio and
Adige, where they have been joined by important
reinforcements. They an said to be now concentrated
at Montechiaro, behind the Chime, having in their
rear the plain of Castiglione, • name memorable in
the campaigns of the First NAPOLEON, in 1798. The
Allies are so near to them that we hear of the Em-
peror of the Pence and the King of Svautnu
receiving addressee at Brescia on Saturday, while
the Emperor of MMS'S was reviewing his troops at
Lonato, a town only 13 miles distant. From the left
wing of the Allies we have news of • smart encounter
commenced by OAIIIALDIN Cacciatori dells Alpi,
and ending in the establishment of the Sardinians at
Castenedola, half way between Brescia and Monte-
ehiaro. From the centre and right wing our intel-
ligence is lees precise, but we may presume that the
forces composing them have made progress corm-
sponding to that of the Piedmentese. The reports
from each of the hostile camps speak of the high
military spirit with which the combatants are
animated. Of the Austrians between the Chime and
the Mincio there are probably from 100,000 to 180,000
who have not yet seen the French. The ESIPESOZ
is among them; they occupy one of the strongest
positions in the world, and they have a decided nume-
rical superiority. The Austrian garrisons from the
Legation and from Modena have been called in
The 4th corps crannee has joined the army of
Italy, and the 13th follows it, while the corps
or arm, e belonging to the third army, hitherto
stationed in Upper and Lower Austria, are sent to
Trieste. The complaisance of the Germanic Conte-
deratioo, which releases Austria from her military
federal obligations, and enables her to employ against
the French the troops she is bound to furnish to
Germany, renders these reinforcements possible.
Unless the German papers are misinformed,
the Confederation, the neighbour of France, is
giving up regiments which, no matter whether con-
tributed by Austria or Prussia, are part of its army,
in order that they may be employed against France
in Italy. Politicians will decide whether this is
consistent with public law ; meanwhile the augmen-
tation of the Austrian army remains a fact to be
borne in mind in the grand operations which may
now be expected. The Emperor of Arnim is ap-
parently determined that his defeat, if defeated be
must be, shall not be a small one, for it will vir-
tually be that of his entire army.
While such is the attitude of the belligerents, •
power which has hitherto remained neutral strongly
invites attention by the maples& of its peeper*,
tient', and the ambiguity of its policy. Prussia,
which has, up to a recent date, shown a desire to
act in harmony with England, appears to be at the
Present moment following • line of its own. It is
impossible to suppose that it is a matter of slight
importance which, at this conjuncture, takes the
Prussian Minister at Vienna to Verona, the head-
quarters of the Austrian Em ezaoa, in company with
the chief Minister of Fairect4 Joem•tt. Yet this
step, which coincides with the transfer of six
army corps to a war footing, is taken at
• moment when friendly counsel with the
British Goverment is impossible, because
that Governmeat is in • state of transition.
Of coarse it is net to be suggested that a first-rate
power like Prussia is bound to shape its course with
strict reference to the policy we may adopt ; but
the mend case is peculiar. Prussia, which threw
sway great opportunities of preserving peace, now
les it in its power to plunge all Europe is war.
Prince Crown it ► frankly signified to our Go-
vernment in the middle of January that Russia is
not the friend but the offended neighbour of Austria;
England is • stranger to the present war, and
Prussia is the only remaining non-belligerent
power whose course of action is doubtful.
It may be that the suggestions and offers of which
Baron WERTIIL/A is the bearer to Vienna, are so
equitable, wise, and disinterested, that they contain
their own justification, and have only to be known in

order to be appreciated by a grateful world. In
- that ease we must still regret the inconvenience of
secrecy, because in the absence of exact intelligence
the meat pernicious reports are doing their work.
Upon the diplomatic measures which the Pnisce
Itzt.aor may adopt within the !text few days it will
depend whether the war now raging is Italy shall be
confined to that territory or be spread over Europe.
We mast hut think it would have shown a desire
to maintain the friendship between England and
Prussia which is so desirable for the interest of the
two countries and of the world, if the advice of
England had been taken oo that subject. It
may not be true, we earnestly hope it is not
true, that Primula has coccluded, or is about
to conclude, a treaty with Austria; but we know that
the existence of such a treaty is credited in Paris
amongst persons accustomed to be highly informed.
We ate the less able to credit this report, because
every step by which Austria has advanced to her
present position has been taken in defiance of the
urgent wishes of Prussia. In his circular of the
22nd of April, Baron SCIILLINITL explained to the
Prussian representatives at the various Courts of
Germany the position of the Government as modi-
fied by the Austrian ultimatum to Sardinia. The
Prosaism Minister there condemned the conduct
of Austria' in unequivocal terms, and de-
clared plainly:—" The Imperial Government bee
" now. as regards Sardinia, undertaken the pert
•• of aggressor; and, if there ever could have been a
doubt epon the question as to whether Austria
" mould claim, io a war fur her Italian Provinces-
" Ibe supper/ of the German Coalecteratioe, nadir