The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-06-10
The News from Europe-Ths Strategy OF the
Emper0rs.

The NEWS from EUfOpe-Tne strategy OF the
EnpcTOrs.
Yesterday we published very interesting tele-
graphic Intelligence from the seat of war in
Europe, by the Argo at st. Johns. To-day we
publish details Of the news received by the
Africa The operations of Garibaldi in the
north Of Lombardy, III cutting OF the Austrians
from the Splugen Pass and driving them south
ward to the plains, in the direction Of Milan, is
not only highly important in itself, as turning
their position, but still more so as being part Of
a strategical plan conceived by Napoleon III,
and the first Development Of his genius as
general 1t will he in the recollection of our
readers that at the very commencement Of hos
tilities the Swiss government demanded both
from France and Austria declaration that in
the coming war they would respect the neu-
trality of Switzerland, guaranteed forever" by
the treaty Of Vienna
The French Emperor replied that in no case
would he violate the neutrality of Swiss terri
tory; but the Austrian government not only re-
fused to give any pledge, but from the tenor Of
its answer it appeared highly probable that it
would violate both the Swiss territory and the
treaty of Vienna together, whenever such cir
cumstances arose as would make it the
interest Of the Austrian government to do
60. The French Emperor, of course, was made
acquainted with this answer, and though he was
silent for reticence is one of his greatest gifts,
| he secretly made mp his mind that as Austria
had determined to violate the Swiss territory, in
using the Splugen Pass In the operations Of the
war, he would take good care to prevent her, by
selling 1t at onco. For this service he selects
bold Garihaldi, with his revolutionary v0lun-
teers, many Of them from the very terri
tory where he was destined to strike; and at
the same time he detailed Cialdini to support
him with his corps, by advancing on his right
He knew that these revolutionary spirits would
kindle the fame Of revolt in the breasts of their
countrymen-the hardy mOuntaineers OF the Val
teIlne-who were so persistently revolutionary
in lSiS and lS49, and were the last to lay down
their arms, holding out in the Pass Of the
Splugen even when there was no chance Of
success.
His calculation was fully borne out, and the
operation of Garabaldi is so far crowned
with success The effect of this movement
| will lie to secure the Pass Of the Splugen,
and probably that Of the Stelvio, which it cost
| the Austrian government SO much money and
| labor to construct in order to connect the
main road through the Tyrol from Vienna to
Verona-.the great stron ghold Of her Venetian
province--with the Valtelline, and thence
through Como with Milan, the capital of
7 orIu ta fna
of the Adige and the AIDA, and enables
Austria, who uses it solely as q fortified mill
tary road, to send an additional column of
troops over the Alps to her Italian provinces
and very near the frontier Of Piedmont Still
further westward over the Alps she constructed
the Splngen road, which she completed in 1928.
On the Italian side it runs through the Vatelline
parallel with the Swiss road, which runs through
| the canton Of Ticino, over the same mountain.
1t meets the Swiss road OF the village of Splugen,
f. four miles north Of the summit, and thence it
! continues through Swiss territory into Germany.
This would be a very convenient route by which
Austria might receive aid from the German Cou-
federation, or send reinforcements to assail the
Allies in the flank and rear SO soon as they had
penetrated into Lombardy. The Swiss Confede-
ration is bound to prevent this pass from being
used by the belligerents and it declares its de-
termination to do 80; but whether it might not
yield to the threats Of Austria is hard to say 1t
joined European coalition against the French
before, under the terror Of Austria, and it may
do so again under the same influence. Notwith-
standing its declared neutrality when the allied
armies advanced to invade the French territories
in 1913, the Austrian corps, under Prince
Sehwartzenberg, passed through the territory Of
Switzerland, and crossed the Rhine at three
different places, without opposition from the
federal troops. Again, the perpetual neutrality
of Switzerland was recognized by the act Of the
Congress vi Vienna, March 20, 1916. But when
Napoleon returned from Elba the allies invited
Switzerland to join them. She did so by arming,
under pretence of guarding the neutrality of her
frontiers, just as she is doing now; and while she
prevented the French from crossing them, she
permitted the left wing Of the allied army to
pass the Rhine and enter France through her
territory. Admonished by the past, and fearing
treachery, Napoleon III. takes time by the fore
lock, and makes assurance doubly cure by sue
cessful operation to cut off communication with
the Austrian army in Lombardy through the
splugcn Pass This is only part of bis plan.
While the main body of his troops have been
advancing from Aessandria against Milan, the