The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-04-01
France and Austria.

In view of the threatened collision between these
powerful empress glance at their military capa-
cities is not without interest According to a very
Intelligent Paris correspondent of the N. o. Plea.
ynnc, France will have, on the LIST of June next,
If she calls out the whole recruits designated by
CONSUMPTION and all the men furlough Q33,-
500 men, 800 97s infantry 50, 800 cavalry, 46,450
artillery, l., 10 engineers 10, 120 men in the mil
itary trains, $1,000 imperial guards, and she
reckons on 600 men 10 the gendarmerie and for
eign legiops, say a total of 672, 1868 men. A hum
dred thousand of these, however, are recruits,
and making deductions for Algeria and home gar
risons, the writer doubts whether she then would
have more than Ar 1868 French soldiers ready for
service. The Austrian army numbers $4,000
men, we'll organised and ably differed. The Ger.
man possessions of Austria not only protected
by the almost impregnable fortresses of Restadt,
Ulm, Ipgolstadt and the entrenched camp of
Lintz, but they are protected against France by
the German Powers, who command 500, 900 sol.
diers, $500 cannon, and iunumerable fortresses
all formidably fortified, armed and provisioned,
not one of which existed when Napoleon made
war.
The Austrian base of operation, adds the
writer, 10 the strongest in the world. 1t is the
river Adize, which was, unfortifed as it then was
selected BY Bonapsrte as the base of his great
operations. 1t is the only tributary of the Pa
which can never be forded. At the mouth of the
Tyrol are works of the most formidable kind
commanding the Pc and all its tributaries. Tyrol
1t 10 said, has been transformed since Bonspare'i
wars into an immense military stronghold, from
which Austria could not be driven by all the
powers of Europe allied together, and it is the
immense military advantages with which nature
has endowed Tyrol that Germany has been ena'
bled to master Italy for the last ten centuries
Tyrol has been streng thened in every way militia
ny science could suggest; forty years of assduout
labor and millions OF money have been employed
in rendering 1t impregnabe. 1t is protected or
the north by two groups, each, Of three fortresse
at Salzberg, Kaufstein, and Pass Lueg, and on thu
south also by two groups OF three fortresses a
Bormio, Estenmunz Pass, and Franzenveste
while behind, Venice is protected by numerous
forts and q powerful citadel.
The Austrians are also said to have among thei'
Generals, the greatest military man in Europe
On the other hand, we are told that France has NJ
great Captain at the head of her army. "Marshsl
valiant" says the correspondent, "isa mere engi
ueer officer. Marshal Bosquet is in state o
idiocy. Marshal Maguan and Marshal Castelant
are good at drilling men. Marshal paraguay
.,i, less of military talents. Marshal Pellssier is
good General in this, that he is reckless of life
Marshal Canrobert is an agreeable, gentlemauIy
far,ow. but that is all that can be said of him
unless repeat what Marshal Peissier said t'other
day. Conversation turned on names The Mar
shall said: "Names are never any indication Of
ones character, for am named Amiable Pelissier
and Heaven knows can't be a,niable, even when
try; and there is Canrobert, whose name is Con.
slant Canrobert, and he is SO little constant he
never formed resolution in bis life, and is never
Of the same opinion for two hours consecutivey.'
It's evident that the Pcayune's correspondent is
not partial to France. But it is too late, especially
after the Crimea, to question the military capaci
ty Of France, and, in great war, the occasion
would produce great Generals. Nevertheless,
Louis Napoleon In view Of the colossal prepare
tons of Austria may conclude that, discretion is
the better part of yalor."