New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-05-17
ITALY.
TssGhIe in Veuice-Tbe Italian Armament I'm
sevsred- X .smark Exciting War-Aa''rr"
Ripe for NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Of War
Strategic Lines.
EtTUttE &c EsEHtFs
- a.. C.......I Tgrrsxt.VI.,f


GENOA MAY l. 1866.
There r. general conviction that on the brink
Of war in Venetia, and the commercial and political
worlds heaving with great convulsion Two facts
cell the story: Italian bonds went down TO IA yesterday
aud at the same hour the Parliament authorized the
Ministry TO adopt such extraordinary of finance
~ it may deem expedient only voting against
the bill Nothing short OF imminent danger could carry
our bords down from 81 TO Al in two weeks and create
nnanimity in such HETEROGENEOUS Parliament as ours
TIE provisions of my letters of the Sd and tn u rom
Florence nave beeen fully venhed and although 1t was
81 weeks denied that arming, was only neces-
sary open ones eyes 10 see preparations everywhere.
n hundred thousand men were actually between
Bologna and FeTTara they were practically on that me
for hey were stationed along the cross made by the
lines between Alexandria, and ADcona, and FeTara, and
ecton ntersectng at Bologna. These troops are there
now and the numbers being gradually increased white
che lines being drawn toward Bologna from Aexan
gTla and AncOna.
4 expressed the opinion a month ago that
,roJaLle do think il whit more so now. The pre-
sent excitement caused by the SRcoreg OF the work
of the last month and the the crisis comes the
more d hcult hov the war IS 10 begin Permit
me 10 dwell little on the difficulties at this point
just now the Germanc dispute assumes pacific form
impossible decide whether this change OF form al
fets the >pr, of the contest incline TO the belize that
Prussia viii attack Austria, rather will fight Austria II
sic provoke Austria into assuming hostile ATTITUDE
Psmark assumption that Austria must cease TO menace
Italy. indicates determination to have blood But n
o. improbable that Austria Will strike Prussia, and,
Into marching order is not be. There must be
an overt act blow struck Who Will strike that blow
Pussa, Austria and Italy all protest that ,ney 90 noI
peace and the French Emperor ostentaOns prades ms
sgonzpg desire for reign of brothery love- But he dd
that in 1882 and them now his lcgions mustered while
he PRAYED and devoutly told his beads do not think it
probafle that there will be I'D Italy unless there be
also a in Germany And If Italy nights VIII be with
clear understanding tDat Irussja - to hep beI Wy
paign IN Germany.
Tie belief is general here that Austria will shortly at
tack The probabilities are against that theory but
there would be a rationale in such q movement Inc
positions Of Italy and Austria are perpetual menace TO
each other The growth and prosperity OF Iay renders
Austria less secure in Venea powerful fleet and army
controlling the whole Peninsula and nation growing
daily united and less friendly TO Austria, makes the
fab of the Austrian power in Venice only question Of
time On the other hand, Austrian army on Italian
soil Ia threat held Italy, and she will not endure II
day longer than she believes II military necessity
War may break out tomorrow, and either party may be
Tie acgressOT Austria may TeasoD must crush Italy
lose Venice. There can never be better time. If
nail now shall leave Venice with my honor unamished."
Some speak OF diplomatic arrangement for sham
var To relieve Austria from her dangerous position On
the other hand Italy feels the necessity Of removing from
her borders the peril Of permanent military occupation
by O foreign power.
Many believe that only war for Vcneta
FROM bankuptcy-that aggressive campaign would be
sound policy is firmly believed by half the nation.
Add the German embarrassment TO the Venetian one
and il almost certain that these armies not mus
tering for display Of force. Austria-soaded IN
both fanks-may have resolved crushing Italy before
ing the insOlence Of Bsmark at her leisure.
She will make terrible mistake; but she did that IN
1859 and with light and less reason; and military
despotisms not often over-wise Passion and pnde
oyerbear the dictates OF prudence and wounded vanity is
dangerous the public peace when resides III 80 pow
trfu body the Austrian empire. And yet is hardly
POSSIBLE believe IN such stupend0us FOLLY as Austria
must commit in attacking LOmbardy closed 70 her
armies by the peace Of Vilaranca She cannot set foot
On il without meeting French army and suffering igno-
minous defeat This fact renders the Italian plan Of de-
tense exceedingly simple. BY looking AZ yonr map you
will see that there remains road into Italy except The
line of Bologna and Ferrara. Austria has great ad
vantage in owning our side Of the Pc for about half the DIS
lance between Mantua and Fenara butt is very difficult
line of march, There the Apennnes most nearly approach
the Po and the Austrans must march up mil with ell the
advantages Of position the side of their enemies. But
SUPPOSE them to reach the railway between Parma and
Aneona They cannot advance across 1t toward Florence
leaving an army ntrenched in Bologna TO fall upon their
rear and DESTROY their communications. They must cap
lure Bologna and this PLACE the Italian sebasopoL
set siege before it is not the kind of campaign Austria
would wish TO conductin Italy.
Indeed can hardly conceive her armies reaching that
point unless our generals deliberately selected 10 fight
ihorc The moral considerations which shut up Lombary
70 the Ausirans enables Italy TO put every and gun
on The ne Of Bologna and Feara and 10 select battle
fields where all the advantages would be ours such a
rainpagn would BE- for Austria thoroughly oheceSs and
hopeless Only military passion aud imperial vanity could
dictate an aggressive policy Does she believe she did
On 1850 that France will not oppose her victorious march
npon Milan, Turin, Alexandria and Genoa