The New York herald., 1866-07-23


only furnished another evidence Of how disciplined
army be frightened and demorazed in the presence
OF superior foe armed with superior weapons The
Austrian army brave and the material composing II
Of the best In Europe It is generally conceded now,
however, that badly led, and that the Prussian
officers though lacking in the actual war experience
which their opponents have had, hold their troops in
better discipline and that the morals OF the Prussian
troops was much the best.
THE AUsrRIASs DEkoRAIIzED
We have as yet no official and very few unofficial de.
tails which are reliable about this last battle Certain 1t
is however that 1t has resulted in the complete do.
moralilaion IL not the destruction OF the Austrian
army and in actual loss OF killed and missing
OF somewhere about hundred thousand men, with be-
tween and two hundred cannon, and immense
amount OF material, captured and abandoned
OFFICIAL CONSOLATION.
Count MensdorH who went TO headquarters after
the battle ended consoles the government here with
report that things not bad they might be- and
asserts in evidence that a hundred thousand
still in lighting condition. What then s that Of the
other two hundred thousand who have been placed
de combat after which has lasted but little
than fortnight and in which there have really been
but four days fighting?
ooGEST CONCLUSIONS.
The result Of this disastrous has proven ns that
the Prussans much better prepared for the than
the Austrans before its commencement. They
in fact in this respect somewhat the condition Of
the rebels at the commencement OF your civil
Prussia had for months been determined to make
upon Austria, and had been making all the preparations
for it, while the latter Power standing upon the defen
sive, and hoping up to the last that
might be avoided when II did come IL was found by no
means ready for the shock
The perfectness Of the Prussan preparations
shown by the celerty with which they acted, and the
wonderful rapdity with which they occupied first the
Saxon and then the Bohemian territory before the
trians seemed scarcely that they at war
What Benedeks mysterious and much vauntcd "plan'
is still unknown and unexplained it when
fortnight snce in spite OF Appearances every Austrian
seemed confident that II must result in What
ever IL was IL has certainly proved n most miserable
failure.
THE NEEDLE GUN
think there In no doubt that in all the important
fights and particularly the last the Prussans
able to mass tho largest force upon given points But
after all the great deciding argument OF the has
been the fund Ncdel Gewehthe Prnssian needle rllc
The wonders which the Austrian army have usually per-
formed with the bayonet were completely csopped by
TINS terrible weapon, as loading and firing
the Prussian soldiery spent such shower OF bullets
upon the advancing foe that BY the time they reached
them there enough eft living do much harm
No men, however brave and determined could stand tho
fire OF these rifles and nothing disheartens army
as the absolute Knowledge that IL Is lighting against
Gabenz and other officers in the Austr who wit
messed the effects OF this weapon in tho DANISH war up
10 the very last moment counselled yielding all the de-
mands Of Prussia rather than To with her under
such terrible disadvantage The Austrian government
well know the superiority OF this gun but In pursuance
OF system Of red tapcism took no means to place
themselves on an equality with their adversares Now,
when the "horse Is stoien.n they are, understand,
opening negotiations for the purchase Of large number
rms rrRsr sKws yaox THE FIELD
When the frst news OF the terrible defeat OF last
wednesday IL
much TO the gloom which for q day previous had
been overhanging tho imperial city. General Benedek
drew IL exceedingly smdn In his first despatch simply
stating that he had In consideration OF the fact that
the Saxon troops had been beaten deemed II advisable
70 fall back upon Koniggratz. Then informed
that the army was Obliged 10 retreat still further,
slowly and IN good order at nrsi but more rapidly as
sion that II great disaster and that the Austrian
was lost
WHAT WAS LOST IN HoLsTKs
The retreat OF the army Olrntz abandoned the
whole line OF the Eibe the Prussians well
control o. the railway between here and Prague l.
portion Of Bohemia. sesia and Morava, with only
broken aud demoraized army 10 oppose them There
seemed nothing to prevent their coming immcd-
ately 20 Vienna; and tho teegraphc communication
between BencdaKs headquarters and the capital
cut on for two days, did not know that Immediately
after the battle he had sent General Gablcnz 70 the
Prussan camp with full power to negotiate an armtce
rREpARrSG TO ABANDON vTvSA.
Preparations therefore made for the abandon.
mcnt OF Vienna 20 the foe Tho rolling stock OF the
Northern Railway Company was run OF 70 the south,
The National Bank packed up in barrels its hundred
and twen,ysix millions Of specie forms and shipped
them up TO the fortress OF komorn The crown jewels
and treasures sent away 10 Innsbruck.
The newspapers began 10 speak moro respectfully Of
the former which graced the windows Of Tho photo.
graph shops which the Prussian Minister usually
represented with only three straight s'n hairs growing
like mariinspikes out OF bis head were removed.
rag cTxsfoS
II understood that Vienna world be defended,
but abandoned 70 the enemy In fact u was admitted
that Austria completely at his mercy and
cept such conditions az he would choose 20 grant when
the fact of the Emperors having transferred veneta
Napoleon and the hitter having offered 70 negotiate an
aimistice and peace with Prussia became known and
put more favorable fac. upon tie mater.
A
II the armisce Of six weeks be accepted ard hxod
fact Ia probable that terms Of peace with Prussia Will
time reorganzc Germany and revising the treaties
Of 1915, regulate anew the map of Europe.
sAroLE1ss CHANCES
The Emperor or Austria has performed
OF policy in giving vcnctia to France As the territory
Is no longer Austrian, but French, the Austrian
army retire from IL with honor and " Itay'e be
gerent propenses not satisfied With obtaining the
territory she has 70 long coveted and wishes 20 continue
fighting for IT, she n have France and Austrr 10
nght II Il not probable that Napoleon Will abandon
veneta without receiving territorial equivalent for h
cal equivalent In the final settlement OF the question o
the temporal power Of the Pope Austria by abandoning
ycnea, knocks away from under the treaties OF 1913
their principal prop and thus makes tho question or the
reorganization OF Europe, including that OF the Gemanc
confederation, which exists under them, a European
between Austria and Pussis In the hands OF the latter
but 10 be settled by the European Areopagus II s not
for the interest OF the European Powers that Austria
should bo too much humbled. and weakened and
diminished in extent 20 the gain OF Prussia. and she
will, OF course. make and get better the
gress which must certainly meet, than sho could
from the naughty foe who now has really conquered
her.
rHK rroYttp
The Austrian government will probably have much
difficulty IN arranging matters with ~ people and
settling the discoriant elements which tho war has
stirred mp m will have Ia making of peace with
Prussia Already the Austrian people, through the
liberal press sndeavorng 10 take advantage a defeat
and disaster 70 force upon the government reforms
liberal scnse and particularly the restoration OF the
suspended constitution Up 10 the year IsG0 Austria
had always been an absolute monarchy, the Emperor
and his ministry, creating the laws and responsible
nobody, regulating the whole Affairs Of the cmpire
After the Italian the young Emperor seeing the ne.
cessty " he would preserve the integrity Of his empire
OF ralyng his people 20 the support the throne and
Of making them directly interested In the welfare and
u ~