Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1859-06-02
From the London Times May IL.
The Prospects Of the Campaign.


gan By the entry of French troops into Pied
mont, and by the passage of the Ticino by
the Austrians, is en- scale which very far
exceeds any former struggle in those coun-
tries. In the long wars of the first Napo-
leon 1t may be observed that the armies con-
tlnually increase in number, while, it is said
the genius of the commander and the PROV.
ess of The individual soldier diminished
The brilliant campaigns of Napoleon's youth
were made at the head Of a few thousand
men. Marengo itself was gained by $4,000
but the war OF 1905 actively employed a.
bout 10000 French, while in the camp paign
OF Wagram, Moscow and Leipsic we have
imcomparably larger armies brought into
the field on both sides. Now, the war of
1859 begins on the colossal scale of the la
ter Empire, and The armies employed may
attain dimensions such as no single State
has hitherto been capable of producing
Presuming the struggle 10 be confined to
France and Austria, and to the field of
Northern Italy, we shall have the specta-
Gle of combat in closed lists such as the
world has never before witnessed. If both
the antagonists Fight we'll and stubbornly,
the conflict will be as interesting to the
military critic as grievous 10 the philan,hro-
pist. Both France and Austria will be able
to march almost all their numerous forces
TO- the 'ert of war. Germany will, while
the war is confined to Italy, be sufficiently
the ally Of Austria to guarantee her from
any attack in the rear from Russia, but not
sufficient 10 disturb France by any demon
stration OF the Rhine. Itmay be said that,
for some time 10 come at least, the influence
Of Germany will have the effect of leaving
both sides free to use their strength against
each other. That they will use it. there no
doubt. The seat of war adjoins the terri
tory Of each, railways and steamers trans
port their troops easily, and most of the long
marches which enfeebled and diminished
armies in the days of Napoleon will be a.
voided. Enormous masses of armed men
can be taken 10 the country they are to
fight in as comfortably as if they were mere
ly making change Of quarters. With this
facility Of transport, and this power of using
the whole of their great standing armies,
we must expect 10 see two hosts gathered
together on the plains of Italy such as no
two single States ever yet opposed to each
other. The numbers we not even pretend
10 guess at. The French are pushing
troops over the Alps, and loading their
ships of war with soldiers for Genoa. The
supply Of food will be the only limit TO the
number which can thus be brought into the
field. The French probably have their in
formation about the Austrian army, as the
Court oI Vienna has its own about French
proceedings. But Englishmen are allowed
10 know little about the matter. There is.
however, no doubt that the Power which
sent quarter Of million of men to Sebas.
opol within eighteen months, will be able
70 send that number into Northern Italy.-
Considering that the whole of Italy, with
$1,000, 900 people, may shortly be in insur-
-eciion, and that Sardinia has some so 600
roops OF her own already, it may be reck-
'ned without exaggeration that more than
300, 600 men may in the next two months
De put in line TO drive the Austrians from
heir carefully chosen and now famous DO
'ilions in Lombardy. On the other hand.
Austria can, and will, no doubt, bring an
equal force into the field. She does not
wan, men, Tor the empire contains 33,OOO,-
)oO souls, without counting the Italian
Provinces. Ii the Finance Minister can
lind the money to keep SOC, 900 men on foot
N Italy, General Gyulai will find work for
hem all. They will not be men to fight
with the spirit and dash of Frepchmen, but
hey will be fine steady troops, superior in
physique to their enemiesj they will have all
hat science has achieved in the way Of per-
sct weapons of destruction. and they will
'e commanded by officers who know that
he eyes of Europe are upon them, and that
hey must fight now for the very existence
II their Empire.
These are the prospects of the campaign,
ud certainly as far as man can divine, they
'romise most obstinate contest. The COM
'atants::are fairly matched. France, with It.
ly at her back, and less impoverished !
xchequer, may be expected to have the su- |
'eriority Of numbers. But the Austrians,
N the other hand, will probably, after their
aid INTO Piedmont. fight defensive battle |
nd then they will be on the ground of which
hey know every inch; they will be holding |
heir own military works, at which they
ave labored for forty years, and which
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