The Sun.
London, England, 1866-03-30 00:00:00

AUSTRIA AND PRUSSIA.

VIENNA, March 25.

The present critical state of the relations of the
empire to Prussia still form the topic of general
discourse. The newspapers discuss probabilities with
an eagerness that shows they understand the real
gravity of the crisis. Great indignation is dis-
played at the attempts of the Prussion semi-official
press to cast the blame of the difference upon the
shoulders of Austria, and journalists vigorously re-
pel the accusation of the empire being desirous of
provoking hostilities. Thus the semi-official Con-
stitutionelle Ocsterreichische Zeitung says

" It is evident to the most limited intellect that
Austria can cherish no more ardent wish than to
find in the deepest peace leisure to solve the pro-
blems crowding upon her at home. It is notably by
the preservation of peace that she may hope to heal
the deep wounds inflicted on the realm by a gloomy
past, and is it conceivable that at the very moment
when new institutions are beginning to take firm
root, and to put forth buds of hopeful promise, she
should urge onward a conflict that would ruthless'y
trample down the young shoots beneath the hoof of
the unchained demon of war ? Peace is the hope
and the prayer of Austria ; she is prepared to pay
any price for it save the sacrifice of her dignity and
honour."

The Neue Freie Presse regards the war question
from a commercial point of view. 'Without inquir-
ing whether the German war has already become an
inevitable necessity for Austria, it believes that in
the long run even the trading interest must prefer
war to a far-reaching prolongation of the prevalent
state of insecurity. The mere threat of hostilities
produces all those devastations in the domain of trade
which war brings in its train, and is in so far more
ruinous, because it offers no prospect of coming to
an end. Were war to occur peace must follow; but
the menace of war produces a convulsion whose limit
it is impossible to foresee, and both trade andmanu-
factures would consider a brisk and active war as a
gain in preference to the paralysing influence of an
impending contest.

The Presse observes:—
" We are not in the least surprised. that War
against Prussia should be more popular in Hungary
than elsewhere, nay, as we are informed, should
even be positively wished for. The modern Liberals,
under Deak and Eotvos, as well as the Left, under
Ghyezy and Tisza, hope for the recurrence of such
times as under the Empress Maria Theresa, and to
obtain large concessions in return for their ready
support. This idea is more warmly advocated by
the Lion (the organ of the former resolution party),
than by the generally reasonable Naplo, which, by
the way, is possibly afraid of being outdone by war-
like storms in its efforts to promote reconciliation.
Hon maintains that a serious conflict with Prussia
would bring into the Austrian ranks 150,000 volun-
teers, in token of the loyalty of the Hungarian
people, but it seems to overlook the fact that when
the great Empress was really hard pressed by
Prussia, Hungary immediately, spontaneously, and
without any demand for recompense, offered and
gave her assistance. But the favour with which the
idea of war with Prussia is regarded in Hungary has
a special side which merits consideration. The
Magyars think that such a war would lead to the
solution of the German question, and could not fail
to place Austria at the head of Germany. The
realm would then be not simply able to grant Hun-
gary as autonomous a position as possible, but would
be compelled to adopt that course in order to be
perfectly free to devote itself to entirely German
objects. Even Baron Schmerling was of opinion
that if the defunct Frankfort reform project had
been carried out very extensive concessions would
have had to be granted to Hungary."
The following is the full text of the letter
recently addressed by Councillor von Hell, the
director of the Austrian Press, to the Viennese
journals :

" The Austrian and Prussian newspapers have
been for some time past full of intelligence as to
the movements of troops, the arming of fortresses,
and other preparations for war, which have been
connected with the difficulties experienced in the
definitive solution of the Elbe Duchies question.
I am not called upon to decide whether, and
in how far, the state of the negotiations upon this
subject in progress between the Cabinets of Vienna
and Berlin may afford cause for the apprehension
that the peace so long existing between the two
great Powers might be disturbed. But I cannot re-
frain from pointing out that several organs of the
Prussian press are endeavouring to represent Austria
as the provocative Power, and that the great majo-
rity of the Vienna journals have patriotically de-
clared that everything must be avoided upon the
part of Austria to give even the appearance of justi-
fication to these Prussian insinuations. What, how-
ever, could be more calculated to support these
statements than the constantly repeated news of
the military measures of Austria? The reinforce-
ment of the garrisons in Bohemia, rendered neces-
sary by recent regretable events, has already caused
various movements of troops to that quarter, and
the replacements thereby entailed cannot imme-
diately cease. But although the troops sent to Bo-
hemia belong almost entirely to regiments originally
garrisoning that province, and only dispersed in other
quarters on account of the reduction of the army to
to its lowest possible pitch, yet the constant an-
nouncements of the movements of troops in Austria
awake in the mind of the reader not exactly ac-
quainted with the facts an impression very similar
to the formation of a military camp. Referring to
the above-stated details, I therefore beg the editor
of your journal, in publishing military news relating
to Austria, patriotically to bear in mind the reserve
imposed by the position of affairs and the deductions
that may possibly be drawn from that intelligence.
—I am, &c.,
(Signed) "F. R. VON 'TELL,
Director of the Press."

VIENNA, March 29.

The morning papers publish disquieting telegrams
from Berlin, and regard the state of things as still
extremely critical, although they contend that
Austria will not take the aggressive.
Frequent negotiations are taking place between
Austria and the middle States.

The Mbatte of to-day gays that Count Men*-

dorff has made a positive statement to Baron. Wer-
ther, the Prussian Ambassador at Vienna, respect-
ing the movements of the Austrian troops, not con-
cealing that Austria must be prepared for auy ex-
treme resolutions that might eventually be taken by
Prussia.

The Commissioners appointed in accordance with
Art. 4 of the Anglo-Austrian Commercial Treaty,
to settle the ad valorem duties, met yesterday at the
Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Count Mensdorff,
Baron Willersdorff, and Councillor Gagern were
present on the part of Austria, England being re-
presented. by Lord Bloomfield and Mr. 'gorier.

THE AUSTRIAN ARMAMENTS.
BERLIN, March 28.
The semi-official Norddeutsche Allgoneine Zeitung
publishes the following item of intelligence in proof
of its statement that Austria is extensively concen-
trating troops in Bohemia and upon the Silesian
frontier.

" The Saxon and Bohemian Frontier, March 26.
—Many horses have been purchased, and high prices
paid for those required for artillery and transport.
" Guns, ammunition, and timber have been re-
cently sent to Josephstadt and Stomggratz by way
of Pardulitz. Trains filled with troops from the
south arrive in Pardulitz daily; one came last Satur-
day from Olmutz, and another from Trubau. Num-
bers of troops are passing through Prague, especially
reserve men and Jagers. An Italian regiment is
quartered in Josephstadt, as well as the Grand Duke
Constantine regiment, a battalion of which occupies
the adjacent villages with half a regiment of artil-
lery. Koniggratz and the neighbourhood are occu-
pied by two infantry regiments, a battalion of
Jagers, and half an artillery regiment. The soldiers
wear grey overcoats. llungarian Hussars are quar-
tered in and around Pardulitz. A regiment of light
horse is echeloned fom Stollin to Podiebrad. Two
more regiments and a battalion of infantry will be
posted in Theresienstadt and the villages as far as
Bodenbach.

" Upper Silesia, March 26.—Between the 20th
and the 24th inst. the following troops have passed
the Oderberg station :—On the 20th, a battalion of
Jagers for Teschen, to be posted there ; the 21st, a
battalion of Jagers from Cracow to Ohnutz ; the
23d, three battalions of the Hanover Regiment, from
Cracow to Josephstadt ; the 24th, four battalions of
the King of Wurtemberg Infantry Regiment. Fur-
ther, heavy siege guns passed in the direction of
Cracow at two distinct periods.
" Upper Silesia, March 27.—Some 50 guns lie at
the Cracowrailwaystation to be sent on to Bohemia.
In Hungary seven, and in Italy eight, cavalry regi-
ments have received orders to prepare for the march
to Bohemia. A large number of Austrian officers
were present at the Tarnow-market to buy horses.
A division will be posted at Trappan and in the
neighbourhood, and a brigade each at Teschen and
Oderberg.
" Cavalry regiments are on the march along the
high road from Cracow to Olinutz.
" On the 24th two Italian regiments passed the
Preran station, on their way to Bohemia. A depot
force has been stationed at Preran, and on the 23d
some 200 railway carriages were collected there for
the transport of troops. Popular feeling against
Prussia around Cracow, and in Austrian Silesia, has
been greatly stimulated by the newspapers, and is
very warlike. The fortifications of Cracow are
being hurried on.
" Beuthen, March 25.—The troops hitherto sta-
tioned here have all gone to Bohemia, mostly to the
neighbourhood of Theresienstadt. During the last
ten days, twenty railway trains have passed through
Cracow, each carrying a battalion of infantry and a
battalion of Jagers, the latter certainly intended for
Theresienstadt. A full park of artillery for three
batteries, and a train laden with powder, have been
sent from Cracow. The guns were partially taken
from the walls of the fortress, which is weakly armed.
The arrival of two battalions of the Prince William
of Prussia Regiment is announced..lii additionfresh
troops are being pushed forward to Galicia from Hun-
gary by way of Lemberg, to see the railway from
that place. Contracts for supplies upon a large
scale have been made in Hungary and Eastern
Galicia. A cavalry camp is formed at Chrzanow,
and quartos for two reginicntz of Uhlans have been
engaged in Chrzanow, Szozakowa, and Bobrek."