The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-05-12

There can scarcely be any longer a doubt
remaining that the war in Italy has COM
menced By the arrival of the Persia steamer
we have advices from Europe to the 30th
of April The ultimatum of Austria demanding
that Sardinia should disband her free corps within
three days, had been Indignantly rejected by the
latter, and although there were rumors that final
offer of mediation, on the part of England, had
been made and partially accepted, and that Aus
tria had so far reconsidered her first demand as
to consent to postpone her declaration of war for
fourteen days. the march Of events has balfled the
only hope that remained of adjusting the quarrel
by diplomacy. We now learn that, in
anticipation Of the passage Of the Ticino by the
Austrians, or in all probability, Simultaneous
~ with that movement, lightweight thousand
French troops had crossed the Alps into Piedmont,
and that another large force, which had been
dispatched by sea, had arrived at Genoa, and
had been most enthusiastically received On
what is stated to be official authority are also
assured that the Ausrians crossed the Ticino in
three columns one hundred thousand strong in
the aggregate, on the 30th of April. The latter
were commanded by General GyULAI, ono of the
ablest officers in the Austrian service General DE
La MARMoRA, who so handsomely distinguished
himself at the head of the Sandman Contingent,
during the Crimean war, commands the Piedmon-
tese army, seventy-fve thousand strong, which is
chiefly concentrated around the fortresses of Aes-
sandria and Casale VICTOR EMMANUEL is himself
at Alessandria, and LOUIS NAPOLEON WILL
it is said, the chief command
Of the French army in Italy. In order to obstruct
the march of the Austrian troops upon Turin, the
country lying between that capital and the Ticino
has been partially flooded, by means of the canals,
which intersect it-and the highways broken up
This precautionary measure may possibly enable
the French force 10 form junction with the Sar-
dinan troops in time to cover Turin before the ar
rival of the AuStranS If such is the plan of oper
atoms the first battle will be fought before its walls
There is, likewise, important intelligence from
other parts of Italy. The Tuscan troops have de-
clared in favor of Piedmont, and the Grand
Duke has fed to Bologna Parma and Modena,
it is reported, have followed the example of Tus-
cany and the whole Of the Romagna is in state
Of profound commotion. The conclusion of a Sc
crct treaty of alliance between France and Rus
SID is authoritatively denied by Austria, and
by some Of the London journals, but The Times,
IN addition to reaffrming its previous statement of
the fact, publishes what it alleges to be the provi-
sions of the treaty. We have thus condensed, into
a brief space, the chief rumors and speculations
that were atioat up to the time the Persia left
Liverpool. Some of these rumors were unquestion-
q IL
speculatons which have been based upon data so
mixed and uncertain, must necessarily partake of
Inc nature of their origin. All that we may GER
'alnly regard as fact is that war has actu-
ally commenced in Italy, and the question of most
moment, at this time is whether the war can be
confined to the Italian Peninsula. If France and
SARDINIA are simply actuated by common desire to
rescue the Italians from the oppressive rule of Aus
fa 1t Is not at all probable that the neutral Powers
VIII suffer themselves to be drawn into the quarrel
ma England should strengthen her fortresses in
tle Mediterranean, and place her navy upon
war looung, are measures which no more imnlv
the probability of general war than does tho
acuon OF Prussia in concentrating sixty thousand
troops on the banks of the Rhine IorIs
NAPOLEON can certainly have no ambition to
measure his strength with the armed coalition
which overthrow his Uncle; whilst to extend the
field of operations by provoking hostilities. either
with England or with the Germanic Coufedera-
uon-mght prove the ruin of Sardinia, and
give death blow to the Italian cause
Where common prudence, as in this case
dictates the necessity of securing the neutrali
ty OF England and Prussia, and of the two hundred
petty princpalites of Germany, which, though
individually weak, are powerful in the aggregate
1t Is not 10 be imagined that so able and saga
clous Il statesman, as the French EMPEROR has
proved himself 10 Ike, will throw down
the gauntlet of defsnce lie Las al
ready through the columns Of the Nlnaear
twice disavowed entertaining any design ahat-
ever Of disturbing the peace Of the Germanic
States, and if the entente cortole heretofore exist
ing between France and England has been some
what weakened of late by the course pursued by
English statesmen and by the diatribes of the
leading journal, so intimate have the commercial
relations between the two countries become of
late-so odious is Austrian oppression in Italy
with all classes of Englishmen, and so averse are
they to engaging in any war, so long as the honor
and dignity of the nation are not compromised
by standing aloof-that no Ministry would be able
to retain Office that should propose a resort to
arms upon insufficient grounds. Even as it is,
the Austrian proclivities evinced by the DERBY
Cabinet WILL in all probability, operate unfav ora
bly, to the Tories in their appeal to the country.
Between Prussia and Austria there are Int few
political affinites. The leading position assumed
by Austria in the Germanic Diet has never been
cordially assented to by Prussia, who, as purely
German Power, claims the right to take prece-
dence of Austria, whose Empire is composed Of
mixed nationalities. So long, therefore, as the
war is restricted to Italy, it is the interest of Prus-
STA to remain neutral, for the loss of her Italian
provinces would not only reduce Austria to a
second-rate power in the Germanic Confedera-
ton, but would tend to consolidate the peace OF
Europe.