The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-05-19

50 vastly outnumbered by the Austrian
hosts. To crush that army, to effect by force
the disarmament demanded, and to dictate
terms at Turin, would be but the effort Of
lew days, IL Sardinia remained uniriended.
When we see her 10 this imminent danger,
we look around snxiously to measure how
far Cff are her friends, and what may be the
chances of timely assistance.
We may assume, perhaps, that the pass
ing Of the Ticino will be considered by the
Emperor OF the French as q declaration Of
war by Austria, and that while the Aus
TRANS are marching from the East upon
Turin the French Emperor will be pouring
his columns from the West, and marching
through the passes Of the Alps to meet the
Austrian invaders, and to anticipate, If pos.
sible their arrival at the Sandman capital
For this purpose we may consider Grenoble
or Briancon as containing the whole force
Of the French empire, for the chains Of
communication by rail are so complete that
continuous columns might be directed from
all parts Of France upon those cities. The
columns, however, that should take their
way by Chambry and Mont Gems, would
find themselves one hundred and eighty
miles from Turin while crossing into the
Piedmontese territory at the Poot de Beau
vOlsin. Those which should advance by
way Of Embrun and Briancon and over
Mont Genevre could find better road on
the Piedmontesc side Of the Alps, but would
scarcely hope to win the race against the
Austrian troops coming by the plains.
Again, help might quickly arrive from
Toulon and Marseilles by way Of Genoa;
Toulon is rich 10 transports, and few hours
might hand respectable force at Genoa.
From Genoa there is railway to Turin,
but, unfortunately, it winds away far up to
the northeast, and all important portion Of
It would probably be reached and destroyed
by the Austrians in their first days march
We should not be very confident in trusting
the safety OF q kingdom to the possibility Of
uniting before Turin columns which had to
penetrate the Alps and to arrive from Genoa,
if one condition Of the military success OF
such al operation were that the cOncentrs.
tion should be effected in three or four, or
even in five or six days Perhaps we may
count something for the delay which may be
reasonably expected to be interposed by the
Sandman army either fighting or retreating;
but, failing in this, or those other chances Of
war which never can be fully calculated, the
military heads who seem to have conceived
this plan Of opening the campaign have not
failed in strategic ability. Physically speak
ing, If the war is to come, he Power which
strikes the first blow and chooses its own
field Of action will commence with an advsn.
tage. Morally speaking, Of course, the pie.
ture is reversed.
Another startling item Of news by the
late steamers, is the announcement that on
the 22d Of April, an alliance was cousum.
mated between France aud Russia and that
Russia WAS moving large bodies Of troops
to the Austrian and Prussian frontiers.
This alliance had created great excitement
in England. A scrap OF news by the Anglo
Saxon states that the Cabinet at St. Peters,
burg has declared its intention not to ad-
vance so long as Prussia and the other
German States refrain from doing so