The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-05-30

appealing to the arbitrament of the sword,
Austria did but act in consonance with the ext
gencies of her situation, she has certainly thus far
derived no advantage from precipitating hostill-
ties. The naughty demand upon Sardinia TO dis
band her free corps within three days, or abide
the shock of war, was indicative of determination
the part of the Kaiser, to put the weaker forces
of Piedmont to utter rout before they could be
joined by their French allies. 1t was supposed
that an enterprise which looked only to great
and immediate success for its justification, would
lie carried out with the utmost vigor and determi-
nation; that the whole disposable force of Austria
which was within striking distance of the line OF
the Ticino, would be precipitated on Turin; that
the Sandman capital would be taken within three
days. and that the advance of French reinforcement
either by way ofSusa or of Genoa, would be retard
ed by the destruction of the railways which connect
those places with Turin. There was good reason,
moreover TO believe that by prompt and active
exertions these results might readily have been
complished. When the Austrian alt5natum was
sent to King VICTOR EMMANUEL, the only obstruc-
ton to the free passage of troops from Milan to the
royal city of Turin presented itself in the shape OF
Notifications, which had been hastily thrown up
by General La MARMoRA on the banks of the Dora
Baltea, small but rapid stream which crosses the
principal highway that connects Milan with Turin,
at a distance of about thirty miles from the latter
city The main bulk of the Sandman army was
at the same time concentrated around the fortresses
of Casale and Alessandria and would scarcely have
hqzarded pitched battle without first obtaining
the support of the French troops that were known
to be fastening to its relief. 1t would, indeed,
have been the extreme of rashness to have ven
turcd to oppose, unaided, the progress of the in
vaders, for the three divisions of Austrians that
were stationed on the banks of the Ticino num-
bered in the aggregate two hundred thousand men,
whilst the greatest force of armed troops which
Victor EMMANUEL could bring into the field exclu-
sive Of those required to garrison Casale and Aes
sandria was fifty-thousand. No more tempting OPP
portunity offered to an enemy who was bent
upon humilatng his weaker adversary. Judging
from the experience of the past, ALSO nothing was
more easy than the conquest of Piedmont. The
Italian campaign OF l849, in which the Sardini-
ans were so signally defeated at Novara by the
Austrians under RADETsKY, lasted but Ave days
Within less than a week from the commencement
of the campaign, CHARLES ALBERT had lost two
pitched battles; had been forced to abdcate in
favor of his son, VICTOR EMMANUEL; had retired
into voluntary exile, and, four months later, the
dscrowned Monarch lay dead at Lisbon. But
whatever may have been the original design of the
Austrians who now occupy the northwestern
portion of Piedmont, the occasion for executing it.
has passed away and instead of a bold and rapid
ma rch no off
that have been made have consisted of series of
predatory forays against the nofensive inhabi-
tants of the Lomellina, upon whom heavy contri-
buttons in the shape of money and provisions
have been levied. 1t is difficult TO understand how
1t has happened that the Austrian Government
after voluntarily Drawing the moral odium of init
ating the war, from the temptation offered to
strike a sudden blow at VIcToR EMMANUEL. at a
time when he was least prepared to offer any ade-
quate resistance, should have exhibited so much
irresolution in executing project so boldly con-
ceived. We hear of the marching of one column
northward to Lake Maggiore of another westward
in the direction of Turin, of third to the neigh
borhood Of Mortara-of marchings and counter
marchings-of desutory movements made appa-
rently without any special aim or obect-of the
occupation and abandonment of Vercelli on the
line of the Sesia-of an attempt having been made
TO cross the Pc not far from the fortress of Casae
which was frustrated by the galantry of a
Sandman brigade-and later STILL the dispatches
received from Turin state that the Austrian army
of occupation ''is changing its position and making
"a somewhat disorderly retreat" That General
GYULAI, the Austrian commander, has had other
and more imposing obstacles to encounter than
RADETsKY met with in 1949, there cannot be any
doubt whatever; but those obstacles have, for the
most part been interposed since the passage of the
Ticino by the Austrians. Whilst during the first
three days after entering Piedmont, they were
slowly cropping their way apparently towards Turin,
the Piedmontese were actively engaged in break
ing up the fine macadamized roads that traverse
in various directions the fertile but marshy district
of the Lomellina, and in laying the whole plain
under water, by opening the sluices of the reser-
voirs that were kept constantly repenished for the
purpose of rrgating the soil. 1t was at period of
the year also when the SHOWS were melting on the
Alps, and every petty rivulet was full to over
flowing. The Spring rains had also set in, and by
the time the Austrans had reached the banks Of
the Sesia they were wading knee deep in water.
French troops to the number of one hundred and
twenty thousand men, had either disembarked at
Genoa, from whence there is a continuous line of
Railway to Turin, or crossing the Alps, had entered
Susa, which is the terminus of another Railway to
the capital. If, then, General GYULAI originally
contemplated the seizure of Turin and the destruc-
ton of the Railways convergug to that point the
design has been most efectually frustrated by the
dilatory movements of the troops under his COM
mand, in the first instance, and by measures which
the Piedmontese subsequently took to impede his
If it be true that orders have been sent
from Vienna, involving radical changes in the
plan of the campaign-as letters written from TIL
rim assert-and directing the Austrian commander
in Italy, to fall back and select position which
will enable him to act on the defensive the loss of
prestige which Austria must necessarily suffer by
these retrograde movements is all the greater from
the audacity that distinguished the original order
for the army to advance. 1t is now rumored that
the young Emperor FRANCIS JOSEPH, will take COM
mand of the army in person, with General Hess
for his Lieutenant, an officer who has the reputa-
ton of being one of the ablest tacticians in Ger
many. If so we shall have the unusual occur
renee of three Kings at the head of the respective
armies in the field That the first great battle
which is fought under such circumstances will be
/ desperate one may readily be imagined, and
hat the Austrians are not quite certain that vic
DRY will perch upon their banners may be sur
missed from the pains which they nave recently
aiken to secure their line of retreat 1t would be
useless, however, to speculate this time and with
he imperfect information which we possess, upon
What would be the result of an engagement be-
ween the allied forces and the Austrians There
also another problem still more difficult to solve;
nd that is the effect which the defeat of the Aus
rian army now in Piedmont would have upon the
neutrality of the States of the Germsnic Confedera-
ion. Quite a number of the southern principali-
les are eager at this time to send their contingents
o the assistance of Austria, and it is confidently
tated in some quarters that they would carry with
hem majority of the votes in the Federal Diet.
russia, however, strenuously advises the preser-
walton OF the strictest neutrality, and as in the
event OF general war she would have to bear
the brunt of the battle and the heaviest burthen in
tue common defence, it is hoped that the ardor of
the part'zans of Austria may be held in check, and
that the Diet Will consent to adopt the expectant
''policy" which Prussia so earnestly oa,,ooa.o.
4hno Irrnr