Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1859-05-20

3
their force amounts, at the very lowest COM
putation, to 5000 men. We do not know
how far this number has been exceeded by
drawing into Italy fresh frontier regiments and
men of the reserve. That it has been exceed
ed, there can scarcely be doubt--but let US
take the lowest estimate of 2l6,000 men. Of
.bese, SO 900 men will be perfectly sufficient
to hold al the fortresses, forts and entrenehed
camps the Austrians care for holding in Lom-
hardy; but let US lake the largest possible fg-
ure, and say 66,QO0 men. This will leave
| lac, 900 men for the invasion of Piedmont
The kilograms givo the strength of tile Aus
| trian army of invasion at I20,0 600; and these
statements are, of course, not TO be strictly de-
pended upou But, TO be on the safe side, We
will assume that the Austrians have no more
than 100000 men disposable for the field
How will the French and Piedmontesc forces
be placed to encounter this compact army!
| Between Alessandria and Casale, in posi-
| ton which ne described some weeks since, the
Picdmontese army is concentrated. 1t num-
| bers FIVE divisions Of infantry and one OF cav
ally--or 45, 600 men Of infantry Of the line,
including reserves: 6,000 rifemen, and about
5000 cavalry aud artillery total 10000 men,
the utmost which Piedmont has been able to
muster in the field. Tho remaining 10000
men are required for garrisons. The Italian
volunteers are not yet fit to encounter an eue-
my in the open field. As we baEe stated, the
Piedmontese position cannot we'll be strtagefl-
eaily turned to the souh-it may be turned,
| however, to tue EortL; aud here 1t IS supported
| BY the line of the Sesla, which joins the Pc
about four miles east Of Casalc, and Which the
Sardinians, il We are 10 trust TO the telegraph
ic dispatches, intend TO hold.
Il would be perfectly ridiculous for $4,000
men 10 accept decisive battle in this position,
if attacked b. twice that force. In all proba-
probability, some show of resistance will be
made on that river-eno0gh to compel the
Austriaus 10 show their full atreng th-and then
the SardiaDs will fall back behind Casale anu
the Pc, leaving The direct road TO Turn open.
This may have happened on the 20ih or Both Of
April supposing that English diplomacy has
not caused new delay in The military opera
tions. The day following, the Als,riaus
would attempt the passage Of the Po, and il
J successful, would drive the SardiBian4 across
the plain 10 Alessandria. There they might
| leave them fer while, if necessary the Aus
trian column, debouching south of tie Po from
| Placenza, could destroy the railroad between
Genoa and Alessandria. aud attack any French
| corps marching from the former to the latter
| place.
| But what DO we suppose the French TO be
doing all this wLle! Why, they are coming
! down, with all haste. toward the future seat of
| war, the valley Of the upper Po. When the
/ news Of tue Austrian ultimatum reached Paris,
the forces destined for tho army of the Alps
scarcely exceeded four divisions of infantry
| about Lyons, aud three mere either in The
| south Of France and Corsica, or 10 the act Of
! concentration. One more division was on the
road from Africa. These eight divisions were
| to form four corps; as a first reserve, The dl-
vision of the troops of the llue at Paris were
disposal be and, as a second reserve, the Guards,
| This would give, IN all, twelve divisions of the
| line and two Of Guards, making seven corps
| d'armee The twelve divisions of the line, be-
| fore the arrival of their men on turlough, would
| count about lO, 600 men each, 10000 III all,
or With cavalry aud artillery l35, ,0QO, aud the
Guards $4,000, making grand total of l63,-
| 00U men. So far, so good; it is fee army,
large enough to conquer country twice as big
as Italy. But where could they be on or
about the first Of May, the time they are want
| ed in the plains Of Piedmont2 Why, McAla-
hou's corps was Gent, about the 23d or oath,
| to Genoa, not having been concentrated previ-
ously, it viii not be able to leave Genoa be-
fore the Both; Baraguay d'IIillier's corps is 10
| Provence. and was to advance, according to
some, by Nice aud the Col di Tenda; accord .
ing 10 others, il was 10 80 on board ship, and
effect landing in the Mediterranean. Canro-
bert's corps was to pass into Piedmont by Mont
Gems and Mont Geneyre, and all tho other
troops were to follow as they arrived BY the
same roads. Now it is certain that no French
troops set foot on SardiDiau territory before
the 26th it is certain that Of tue army of Par
is three divisions were still at Paris on the
9th, one of which left ouy that day by rail-
way for Lyons; and that the Guard was not
expected to begin its march before the 9th
Thus, supposing that all the other troops emu
merated above had been concentrated on the
lroatier and ready for tho march, we have eight
divisions of infantry, or $4,000 men. Oi
these, 10000 60 to Genoa, -, 1000 under Bar
the Col di Tenda. There remain 10000 un-
der Canrobert and Mel to 20 by Mont Gems
aud Mont Genevre. This will be the whole
which Louis Napoleon can make available By
The time his assistance will be most wanted
the time when the Austrlans may be at Turin.
Aud all this, let US observe in passing, is per-
feetIy IN agreement HIth the indications we
gave this subject weeks ago. But with all
the railways in the world, Louis Napoleon can-
not bring down his remaining four divisions
from the army Of Paris in time tn take part 10
the FIRST engagements, unless he allows the Aus
TRANS to do as they like with the Piedmontese
for full fortnight: aud even then, having
eight divisions on two mountain passes, and the
enemy on their point of junction in at least
equal numbers, he stands but poor chance
Bat mau in bis position cannot, from politi-
cal reasons, allow Piedmont to be oyerriGdeu
by the enemy for full. fortnight, and therefore
Lo will have to accept battle as soon as the
Austrians offer it, and that battle be must fight