The Sun.
London, England, 1866-06-29 00:00:00

THE AITSTRIAN ARMY.

(From the Times' Military Correspondent.)
BOMISCH TEUBAU, June 25.
The news of a victory at Custozza, in Italy, has
filled this army with joy and pride. We hear that
2,000 prisoners are taken, and Prince Amadeus
wounded. Field-Marshal Benedek himself an-
nounced the glad tidings to a group of excited
hearers this morning, since when little else has been
talked of.

To the telegrams from Italy, Field-Marshal
Benedek made the following reply in the name of
the Army of the North :

" Trubau, June 25.
"Field-Marshal Benedek and the whole Imperial Northern
Army, full of joyful admiration, send their hearty felicita-
tions to the brave Army of the South, and its illustrious
commander for the late glorious day of Custozza.
" The campaign in the South has opened with a brilliant
victory to our brothers in arms. A second glorious Custozza
is emblazoned on Austria's Imperial shield of honour."
At the foot of the order containing these tele-
grams Field-Marshal Benedek added the following
address to the troops :
"Soldiers of the Imperial Army of the North !—You will
hail this news with joy, and go forth to the approaching
strife with increased enthusiasm, so that we shall soon in-
scribe on the same shield a new and glorious battle name,
and announce to the Emperor a victory from the north also,
for which your martial ardour is longing, and which your
valour and devotion will win, to the cry of Long live the
Emperor. " DENEDEIC.”
This evening, as the Field-Marshal, many of his
Staff, and civilians were present at a restaurant, the
reply arrived from Italy, and was handed round to
be read :
" THE ARCHDUKE ALBRECHT TO FIELD-MARSHAL

BENEDEK.

"The Army of the South and its Commander give heart-
'elt thanks to their former General, well beloved, and to
his gallant army, persuaded that they will soon be able to
return felicitations upon a like success."
In a general order, dated the 13th of May, the
Commander-in-Chief laid down certain principles
which, as he said, were to be the Bible of the North-
ern army. A few selectioas may serve to indicate
the spirit in which he wishes the troops to act.
He is to be addressed in all communications as
"his Excellency the Field-Marshal Coiumandar of
the Army," without any, ynnecessary titles or high
sounding phrases.
Health is to be cared for both by officers and men
for the sake of the Emperor's service. No talk
about differences of religion, birth, or nationalty ;
no jealousy nor unworthy rivalry. "We are one
army, with but one object before our eyes, to de-
serve well of our common Fatherland, to show our-
selves worthy of the Emperor's trust and love, and
to earn his approval." Soldiers are told that they
have nothing to do with politics. "And, above all,
the strictest discipline is to be maintained." The
officers must hold back their troops from excesses
with "an iron grasp." On entering' a foreign
country everything is to be paid for. " Absolutely
no plunder." Officers requiring horses must never
pay less than the regulation price.
All these and many other rules show that the
inhabitants have nothing to fear from the presence
of the Aord Armee. War cannot be made without
the infliction of much suffering, but as far as pos-
sible this will be confined to the armies in the field.
Nor will they be left uncared for. Droves of oxen
follow the troops or are collected from the surround-
ing country ; excellent bread is sent from Prague
and Vienna; hospitals are provided for the sick and
wounded, whose wants will be attended to by a
large staff of surgeons. The men are to my know-
ledge well clad, and, though forced marches must
try the hardiest pedestrians, waggons are not want-
ing to relieve the fatigue of the weary and footsore.
An Austrian army in the field carries no tents, and
the weaker soldiers must suffer from bad weather.
The soldier's accoutrements are light, his dress is
easy, his rifle (with bayonet) weighs less than ten
English pounds—much the same as our own Enfield,
and his appearance is more workmanlike than pic-
turesque. Recruits and service men still continue
to arrive by train or road, yet the country is by no
means drained of its resources. Plenty of stalwart
fellows are still in plain clothes, ready to be called
out if wanted. Indeed, the power of Austria and
Bavaria to furnish men seems almost inexhaustible,
to say nothing of the minor States, which follow in
the Imperial train.

So long as money is to be had the army will not
be allowed to suffer want. If we succeed in reach-
ing Prussian ground contributions will no doubt be
levied, but I am sure that the indignation caused by
the alleged excesses of the enemy will not be allowed
to vent itself in pillage, nor in the demand for any-
thing but necessaries.
During the last three days much rain has fallen
and the roads are rather heavy. But on mountain
roads the water soon drains off, and there is no check

to the cavalry, artillery, and trains that are pushing
through to-day.

On the afternoon of the 23d a body of the enemy
of all three arms were charged on the road between
Kratzau and Friedrichsheiu by the 6th and sth
half squadrons of Radetzky's Hussars and driven
back, leaving five dead. Several horses were taken.
Later in the evening a division of the enemy ad-
vanced from Einsiedel by Schonborn.
A squadron and a half of Prussian dragoons were
attacked most gallantly by half a squadron of hus-
sars and put to flight. Four prisoners were taken.
A battalion of Prussian Jagers formed line and
received the cavalry with a volley.
Major-General Fradricivio gave orders to retire,
and placed the avant garde close to Rochlitz.
The Austrians have been driven by superior force
to retire to Langenbruck, where they took up posi-
tion without being disturbed. An advanced post is
supposed to have been cut off, as an officer and some
men are missing.
On the same day (23) Gabel was entered by the
enemy, the Austrians retiring to Niemes. The Pru-
ssians opposed to the brigade Fradricivio are parts of
the 3d and 4th Prussian army corps, composed of
the Ist Hussars, 26th, 66th, and 67th Regiments of
Infantry.
Prisoners assert that 60,000 Prussians are within
three miles of Reichenberg.
It is reported that a more serious affair has oc-
curred near Reichenberg, in which the Major of the
Austrian Hussars, called King of Prussia's, and a
captain have been killed.

LICENSED VICTUALLERS' SCHOOL.—The annual
festival in support of this excellent institution was held at
the Crystal Palace onWednesday, when between 1,700 and
1,800 persons dined together there. Mr. James Watney,
jun., of the firm of Elliot, Watney, and Co., presided. The
society was instituted on the Bth of February, 1794, and
has now been 72 years in existence, during which period
nearly 17,000 licensed victuallers have enrolled their
names as members. The number of members is about
3,200, of whom 327, or about one-tenth of the whole num-
ber, are in receipt of weekly allowances, varying from 5s
to 10s. At the present time £lO6 16s. per week, or £5,553
12s. per annum, is expended, in addition to which allow-
ances of from £3 to £4 towards funeral expenses bring up
the expenditure under-this head to nearly £5,800. From
this branch alone £209,924 has been distributed.
Licensed victuallers who become members of tho society,
and remain in business three years afterwards, and who
may be overtaken by distressed circumstances, accompanied
by sickness or permanent bodily infirmity, are entitled, on
application to the:governor and committee, and without the
anxious and often vexatious -formality of election, to par-
ticipate in the benefits of the society, thus having the valu-
able advantage of immatiato assistance. The dinner, pro-
vided by Messrs. Bertram and Roberts, appeared to give
general satisfaction. After a number of the children who
are being educated in the institution were introduced
They presented a very healthy and pleasing appearance,
and their advent was hailed with cheers. Two of the senior
boys delivered addresses expressive of the benefits received
by themselves and the other recipients of the charity. The
chairman, in proposing the toast of the evening, " Success
to the Licensed Victuallers School," stated that the school
was built in 1803, and since that time 1,600 children had
been admitted into it. It now contained 155 children, and
the meeting would judge from their appearance of the
healthiness of the children. Tho children appeared to be
well taught, and the only thing he bad to suggest was that,
in addition to the usual education imparted, they should
be taught French. Mr. Smalley, the secretary, then read
a list of subscriptions, which, including 450 guineas from
the chairman and his partners, amounted in the aggregate
to upwards of 2,000 guineas.