The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-07-20
THE DEFENSIVE SQUARE OF AUSTRIAN
ITALY.
From the Ne,u York Times

From the NelU York Tines1
This square is formed by two great fortresse c
Mantua and Verona with two bridge heads and
Notifications, Peschiera and Legnago
The square is closed to the north by the last
spurs of the Alps on the shores of the Lago di
Gardi to the west it is defended by the Mincio
which leaves the Lake of Garda at Pescbiera wa.
tiers the plains of Mantua and Joins the Pc at fif
teen leagues distance from its springs at Goyerno-
10, after opening real lake, on the banks of which
lie the fortresses of Mantua; to the south the
strategic square defended by the line of the River
Pc, which runs beneath the walls of Cremona and
draws to itself all the torrents flowing from the
Alps to the east the boundary of the Austrian de-
fences is formed by the Adige which desends from
the mountains of Switzerland, and flows on paral-
lei with the Pc, after passing by Trent, Royeredo
Verona and Legnago. The strength of a positi n
so fortified by nature and by art does not need to be
developed. 1t borrows strategic Importance from
the numerous breaks of the ground, which-if we
may be pardoned the expression-seem but to have
formed the successive steps in the natural defence
of Austrian italy,
But If nature has done much for the .sstrataoic
square" art has done more.
Austria has neglected nothing which might en-
sure communication with her dominions Waterad
by the Danube. She has made broad road in the
direction of the Alps to unite the regions of tho
lorarlberg and the Tyrol with Lombardy by the
Pass OF the Stevio. This road passes through the
Naltelline, around the Lake of Como and ends
at Bergamo. 1t may serve as well for the retreat
of the beaten Austrians into the Tyrol as for the
advance of the victorious Austrans upon ItaIr
Two railways pass also by this central point of the
Austrian position One of these railways unites
Lombardy with Vienna, by circling around the
crescent of the North Adratic; the other leaving
Botzen in the Tyrol, skirts the Lago di Garda
touches Trent, Roveredo and Verona, and bv a
branch road reaches Mantua, and thus unites the
two main angles of the famous square The New
York Herald, in publishing pretended map of this
square, carefully omitted the bridge head of Legna-
60, and thus converted the square into a triangle.
The strength OF Peschiera and Legnago is out of
all proportion to that of Mantua and Verona bnt
both positions are important keys of the square.
Peschiera, on the northwest angle, watches the
approaches from Lombardy to the Mincio and com
mands the Lago di Garda. Legnago on the south
east angle, lies as outwork of defence between
Man:ua and the Adriatic country, and protects the
southern line of the River Adige.
The main merit of Peschiera which lies on an
island in the Minco is that it commands the suices
by which the body of that stream can be suddenly
swollen from the lake.
The investment of Peschiera by the Sardnians
now complete, has destroyed the quadrilateral for
the time being. Nor for the first time. For Pes
chiera was taken by the Sardnians, under the Duke
of Genoa, in 184s. At this time the Sardnans
crossed the Mincio after several hours hard fight
ing. If we follow the windings of this river we
shall find countless elbows formed in the right
bank, favorable to the passage of troops, such as
Salianza, Moini, and Borghetto. The allies pro-
badly passed all these points, and are masters of
the whole course of the Mincio to Goito. The line
of the Mincio is the base of the new campaign now
about to open.
Almost at the southern end of the River Min
cio lies the strong fortress of Mantua the only
Gibralta of Austria in Italy guaranteed by the
treaties of 1915. Mantua as we have said lies ON
lake ofthe River Mincios In spite of the labors
spent upon it, Mantua still holds the rext rank
70 verona. 1t is post of danger for the army
without.
A canal divides Mantua and makes small port
hy five fad
ways with the land. The place is protected in
the centre by five detached forts, the CITADEL Pra
della, Castle OF Faith, St. George and Miglaretto
which commands Cremona, Borgo Forte, and
Governolo. .aeet .a' -'..''l ~ 49, 3
AT Roysrbelio are machines for flooding the