The Sun.
London, England, 1860-08-28 00:00:00

THE INVASION OF CALABRIA.

A letter from Messina, dated August 20, says :
Garibaldi's star shines more brilliantly than ever.
Shortly after sending off my letter yesterday by
the direct boat to Marseilles we received news of
the success of Garibaldi's landing in Calabria with
the Brigade Bixio, of the Division 'Purr. It was
an autograph letter from Garibaldi himself which
brought the news in his usual laconic style. It is
dated 11 a.m., from Melito, and says, We have
landed successfully ; our people are reposing ; the
country people are flocking to us. The Torino has
gone ashore, and all efforts made to get her off have
been fruitless." Almost at the same time that the
news of a successful landing arrived from this we
got the information from our ally, the Neapolitan
semaphore, which telegraphed to Reggio and all
along the coast that Garibaldi had landed with
8,000 men at Capo Spartivento, that the cruisers
could do nothing, as he had eight men-of-war and
seven large transports, and that assistance was re-
quired most urgently, There was no answer, and
we know the reason ; the Semaphore has been de-
stroyed towards Melito, but higher up Reggio de-
manded assistance, and this cry for help was seen
spreading along the coast towards Palmi. In the
evening the Franklin, which had formed part of the
expedition, came in, and brought details of the
landing. Provious to starting, when the men were
already embarked, it was found that the Franklin
had sprung a leak. It was night, and there was
some hesitation on the part of the sailors to plunge
and look for it. Garibaldi, who was present, took
off his sword and said, " I see I must look for it
myself." The next moment 20 were in the water,
but the search was unsuccessful, owing to the
quantities of seaweed and shells which clung to
the bottom of the ship. So nothing remained
but to use the pumps, and try to get the better
of the leak in that manner. This was done up
to a certain point, but not entirely ; however,
Garibaldi was not foiled in his plans for that.
He made the men embark again, telling them that
he had navigated ships in afar worse state for several
days, and that therefore a passage of a few hours
was not worth speaking of.
The two steamers departed, taking their course
due east, and at 2 a.m. they were close inland. The
Torini, heavily laden with 2,000 men, besides
stores, ran on shore. Nevertheless, the disembar-
kation began near Capo Spartivento, in a bay to
the west of it. Not a trace either of Neapolitan
cruisers or soldiers was to be :seen—all went off
without accident, but the hope that the Torino
would get off by being lightened, was not realised.
She remained fast embedded. The Franklin re-
mained there for six hours taking to get her off; the
thickest hawsers broke, but the ship did not stir.
Seeing that nothing could be done, Garibaldi
ordered the Franklin to return to Messina. She
had scarcely rounded the Capo dell' Armi, when
she fell in with two Neapolitan frigates, which
hastened down in the direction of Melito. She
hoisted the American flag, under which she,sails,
was let pass, and tame into Messina.
The first thing on landing was to destroy the
Semaphore stations; it was done with one, but the
other, higher up, could not be found in time to de-
stroy it, and thus the tale of the landing was brought
to Reggio and to us. At the same time messengers
were sent out to find the 200 men who had been
thrown across from the Faro 12 days ago. They
were in the wilds of the Aspromonte, about three
hours' distance, and soon rejoined the forces under
Garibaldi.
The Neapolitans have been this time as com-
pletely outmanoeuvred as they were at Palermo.
They concentrated all their forces along the coast
from Reggio upwards by Punta di Pezzo, Torre
Cavallo, Scylla, Bagnara, Palmi, up to Monteleone,
where th©y seem to prepare for their real resistance.
They sent off 1,800 men in search of the 200 first
landed, and left the rest of the coast quite ungarded.
They evidently did not imagine that one can sail
round the island without passing the Straits. Of
Reggio itself they were so sure that they left not
more than eight companies there—four of the Line
and four of Riflemen. As soon as the landing of
Garibaldi became known a deputation waited on
the Commander, asking him whether he intended
to fight—if so, they requested him to move out of
their town, as they did not care to have their houses
destroyed. In case he did not choose to go out, the
people would rise; and try to make him go out. The
Commander promised to take the field.
As far as one can judge from the Neapolitan
troops with whom we have come in contact, the
great majority of the officers would have no hesita-
tion in making common cause with us, were they
sure of keeping their rank ; they live, together with
their families, on their pay, and hesitate to risk it

before they can see clearly which side will be the
strongest. If we could make promises in the name
of King Victor Emmanuel, few would hesitate, but
we are as yet only a Provisional Government not
recognised by the Powers. It will, therefore, I sus-
pect, require another good battle to bring home the
conviction that there is no risk, but, on the contrary,
gain, in joining the Italian cause.
Last night the signal fires on the heights above
Nlelito could be distinctly seen, in spite of the white
haze which enveloped the Calabrian coast, announc-
ing to the whole country on both sides of the Straits
that Garibaldi had landed. The ne-vs spread like
wildfire through the town, and all the world went
out to walk about the illuminated streets and listen
to the bands of music which kept the town alive till
midnight. The fort was quiet and mournful; there
was not even the skirmishing on the outposts which

has become lately the fashion. According to the
convention the fort must keep quiet unless it is
attacked itself, so the garrison is in the position of
seeing every preparation going on under its eyes
without being able to do anything.

According to all probability Garibaldi will be to-
day in Reggio—this was, at any rate, his intention ;
whether circumstances will decide him to alter this
plan can, of course, not be predicted.
All the rest of the force is on the qui vine, ready
to embark at a moment's notice. The where and
how depend on the events on the other side, and
the consequent orders. You may imagine the im-
patience of every one. If Reggio be taken, and the
coast made clear, the landing will probably occur
in the Straits, at the nearest points ; if not, some
other point will be found higher -up.
Before leaving Faro Garibaldi issued the follow-
ing address to his army :

"Among the qualities which ought to predomi-
natein the Italian army, besides bravery, is
the amiability which attracts and secures the af-
fection of soldiers. It is difficult that brave and
beloved officers should not obtain from soldiers
the disciple, subordination, and elan necessary
in difficult circumstances, and, above all, the firm-
ness which is necessary to support the fatigue of a
long campaign. Moreover, they ought to obtain
the constancy which almost always decides victory
during battles. With harshness they may obtain a
severe discipline; but it is better to obtain it in a
kind manner, and with due influence. True
valour is always the concomitant of magnanimity.
A brave Italian must be magnanimous with all,
and especially with those with whom he sojourns.
This war of emancipation. so nobly commenced by
you is indebted for its success to the heroism and
sympathy of the people. The movement which
from Parco brought us to Gibil-ltossa and from
Gibil-Rossa to Palermo, namely, that which
secured the liberation of the Sicilian capital, pro-
duced, I say, that splendid result, because the
enemy could not he aware of it in spite of its
numerous spies. This fact was the result of the
affection of the Sicilian people for the holy cause we
defend, and of the honourable behaviour of our
soldiery towards the inhabitants. Especial atten-
tion ought to be paid in order to secure concord
between all the Italian provinces. Unhappily, this
truth, although recognised by all, has been prac-
tised but by a few. Italians of the north, more
accustomed to the clang of arms, proud of victories
already gained over the enemies of Italy, should
fraternise with the younger soldiers of the south.
They ought to share with them their experience,
so as to embolden them by a friendly association.
Theyought to remember, above all, that in the recent
campaigns Italy has seen that she can count upon all
her sons without exception. She can convince
herself that Italian bravery has shone forth •at all
periods of its history—in the cold plains of Lom-