The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-06-18


TO look at it through smoked glass
The StratgscaI Positions Of the Armies tn
Italy.
The positions occupied by the belligcrent
crmies in Italy at last accounts indicate the pro-
liabilities Of great battle at an early period.
The tactics of Gmibsldi in Northern Lombardy
have been the theme of much comment, and we
think, bave given rise to some misrepresentation.
1t was evidently designed that his efforts in that
quarter to revoluioDze the country, and at the
same time 10 cut off the roads leading through
the Splugen and StelviO passes from the Aus
trians, were to have been strongly seconded
by portion Of the allied armies With this
intention, the Piedmontse under Cialdia
early part of the campaign; but owing to the
actions with the Austrians on the Sesia, they were
unable to effect that purpose in time to save bis
small force Of three thousand volunteers from
being repulsed at Como and driven back to Lake
Maggiore.
By Retrospective glance at the career Of
Garibaldt since he entered Lombardy, we will
see how important strategic movement was
assigned to him.
Gathering around his standard already sup
ported by gallant band of volunteers dis
affected subjects of Austria, he pushed rapidly
along from the frontier to Varese, thence to
Como, capturing both cities, and spreading re-
volution as he went Thence he melted revolu-
ton as far as Sondrio, in the Valtelline, which
province rose against Austrian tyranny. Master
OF Como he commanded all the country be-
tween the AIDA and the Ticino north of Monza
and Bergamo, with good roads open to him lead
ing directly to those points, and to vercelli and
Novara on the west. Had he been supported
here by the allies, we perceive that be could not
only have cut off the Austrian reinforcements
arriving through the passes Of the Stelvio and
the Splugen, from Switzerland, If they violated
her territory, and from the Tyrol, through which
she is now marching an army from Bavaria, but
have placed an army on the flank Of the Aus
TRANS lying on the line Of the Tcino and the
Pc, and threatened even Milan itself, in copjunc-
lion with Napoleon's main army.
But the sudden advance Of General Urban's
force from Milan to Como, by railroad, compell-
ed him to abandon his position and fall back on
Lake Maggiore. Here, as we learn, he attacked
the strong fort of st. Michel, which protects the
town Of Laveno, the largest post fortified by the
Austrians on the lake, and, having captured it,
entered Lavino, which he occupied at the last
accounts thus, at the worst, having passage
into Switzerland open to him.
Tho OccuDaticu Of fhiu poipt 10 a yorxy ;vocor
sant gain, not only for the gallant General
having thus secured his communications from
Como and Varese with the western side of the
Lake Maggiore-but also for the French army,
which was endeavoring to open passage into
Lombardy by way of Intra and Laveno.
This last place is situated forty miles from
Milan and twelve miles from Varesc, on the
shore of the lake, and it faces the towns of Pa.
lama and Intra, which lay on the Piedmentese
side, and also the debouches Of the Simplon, near
the Borromean Islands. Therefore, although
Layeno is only small town Of about 1900 10.
habitants, it has always been considered an i'm
portant position in a strategical point of view
This small town is the head of the varese and
Milan road, and is built on the slope of high
mountain, called Pizza Iii Orsera, and dis the
lake makes there kind of gulf the access to La
veno by the lake side is almost impossible, being
defended by the fort st. Michel, situated on
hill bordering the gulf on the northern side and
the fort Briadzs, on another hill at the other ex.
tremity Of the said gulf, to the southeast of the
town.
The folt st. Michel, however, Is dominated By
large country seat, kind of feudal CASTLE
with two towers at the sides, belonging to the
Tinelli family, which, being placed on the high
est part of the town, can be reached by steep
mountainous road, which, through the Orsera
and other mountains, leads to Laveno on one side
and Varese on the other. 1t is then probable
that the undaunted Italian Leonidas, who is the
idol of the courageous and warlike population
Of that mountainous district, may have succeed
ed in throwing his troops into the castle above
described, from which he could easily beat
en- fcharp the fort of St Michel, which is now re-
ported to be in Garibaldi's possession The
lake, from Laveno to Intra, is only three miles
wide, so that the allied troops have now free
passage from the Sesla to Varese, Como and the
Valtelline.
That the original intention of Louis Napoleon
was to sustain Garibaldi in Northern Lombardy
is now manifested by the fact that Sandman
force has advanced as far as Sesto Calende, vii
lagoa short distance to the south Of Laveno where
we learn by the latest news his advance was
arrested by the Austrians, as well as by the fact
that five hundred French engineers had arrived
at lntra, on the north shore Of Lake Maggiore,
with view to cross over and join Garibaldi.
Having said this much of the strategical move
ments Of Garibaldi's force, let us look at the
positions occupied by the other corps d'armic of
the allies
The centre and left wing of the Franco-Sar
dinan forces have their headquarters at vercelli,
where Louis Napoleon was at the last accounts.
having advanced from Alessandria. At the lat