New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-06-22

The arrival of the Persia last night puts us in
possession of variety of highly interesting docu-
mepts concerning the battle of Magenta, for which
we refer our readers to the proper place Their
substance may be summed up very briefly: The
battle of Magenta was decisive defeat Of the
Austrians and pregnant victory for the French;
the Allies have entered Milan amid popular re-
oiciues the Ausrians are in full retreat, and the
corps of BeDedek has been signaly defeated by
paraguay d'Hilliers (of whose disgrace no more is
heard) at Marignano and 200 prisoners taken;
and the Allies are flushed with confidence aud the
Austrians are dspirited and desponding
Our London contemporaries generally treat the
battle as surprise On the part of the Austrians;
and such was our own judgement until the present
testimony came into our hands. II now appears TO
us that Gy ula was not much surprised, as ciught
in fatal bluuder; and our reasons for this opinion
we proceed to set forth. When the Austrians took
their position some thirty miles IN advance OfAllan, 1t
was not TO be expected at they could cover every
possible asenue to that capital. There were three
roads open to the Allies; they could march right
through the Austrian center by Valenza, Garlasco,
and Bereguardo on the Austrian left by VOghera,
Stradells, and across the Pc between Payia and RI
acenzs; and finally on the Austrian right by Yer
cell, Novara, and Bufalora Now, if the Austr-
ans wanted to defend Milan, they could defend only
one of these three routes BY placing their army
across it; to defend every one of them by placing
a corps on each, would have been to scatter their
strength and incur certain defeat. But It is recog-
nized as q rule in modern warfare, that q road is
quite as we'll, if not better, defended by lat
eral position than by mere front defense,
An army of 10000 to 20OO0O men, concentrated
on small space Of ground ready to act in every
direction, cannot be passed by with impuuity by
hostile army, unless immensely superior in force.
When, for instance, Napoleon, in 1873 marched
toward the Elbe, and the Allies though vastly su-
perior in numbers, had reasons of their own to
seek battle, they took position at LUtzen, few
miles south of the road leading from Effurt 10
Leipsc. NspOeon's army had in part passed by
already when the Allies gave notice to the French
of their proximity. The consequence was that the
march of the whole French army WAS stopped,
the advanced column recalled. and battle
fought, which left the French, although su-
perior by $4,000 men, barely in possession of
the battle field The next day both the hostile
armies marched on parallel lines toward III, Elbe
and the retreat of the Allies was not even
molested Had the forces been more equally bal
anced, the lateral position of the Allies would have
stopped Nspoleon's march as effectively, at least
is an occupation in front Of the direct road 10
LEIPZIG. General G!ulai was in exactly such
position. With force which it certainly depended
upon him alone 10 increase to mere than 10000
men, he stood between Mortara and Pavis, stop
ping the direct road from Vaenza TO Mlsn. He
might be turned by either wirg, but that was the
very nature of bis position, aud if that position Was
worth anything, he ought TO have been able to find
an effective remedy for that contingency IN the
very facilities the position gave him for counter
acting such movements. But leaving the Austrian
left entirely out of consideration, We will conhne
ourselves to the wing that has actually been turned
On the 3Qth and 3lst Of May, and Let Of June,