Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-06-14
QDblo Statesman,
Signs of War in EurOpe-The NIiIi-
tary Comma nd ers.

y
It is settled that European Conference
will be held, Austria and Prussia having
tually given In their adhesion. A signif-
cant statement, however, reaches us by the
last steamer, to the effect that the Govern
ment of PTu 'sia consents to take part in the
conference only on condition that it's de-
CisiOns shall not be binding, and that its
duration shall be as short as possible on
account OF the armaments which are in
progress. Tile programme agreed upon
covers the question of the Duchies, the re-
lations of Austria and Italy, and the adjust
ment of the Germanic Confederation. A
belief seems to be gaining ground in Eu-
rope that the results of the Conference
will be meagre, and that war is inevitable;
and the intelligence of active military
preparations which comes from all parts of
Europe shows that the hope of peace is not
generally entertained.
The signs of war, i'm fact. are unmistak-
able. Field Marshal Benedrk has accepted
the chief command of the eight hundred
thousand men whom Austria is prepared
to put in the tield-but he accepts reluct-
antly and under curious conditions. such as
the concentration of the first blows upon
Prussia, the destruction of Berlin, purely
defensive policy in Venetia until Prussia
shall have beer disposed of, the exclusion
of all the archdukes from commands in the
army, and other stipulatiOns which make
| the Marshal even more unpopular than
ever among the Austrian nobility, who de-
test, and yet cannot do without him. The
rapid concentration of the immense force
of Austria and the vigor of Benedek's
measures indicate that the empire is pre-
pairing for deadly struggle.
In Prussia four armies are organizing.
One is to protect the Rhine provinces: Il
cooperative force will be stationed in Sax
ony; the third will cover Berlin; the
fourth will occupy Silesia and support
the army charged with the defense of
the capital. The weak point in the Prus-
sian military programme seems to be that
there are four commanders-the Crown
| Prince, Prince Frederick Charles, the Duke
of Cobourg and the Grand Duke of Meek
lenburgh-whereas the Austrian force is
under the supreme control OF Benedek, who
carefully excludes all officers of the blood
royal from commands where such persons
are more ornamental than useful.
Some account of the extraordinary up
rising in Italy was given in the EUening Post
of Saturday. The latest advices confirm
the statements already made. All Italy is
alive. Volunteers are pouring into the
camps by thousands. Several rich Vene-
tianS have subscribed q sum sufficient to
buy an annuity of three hundred and sixty
five francs, to be given to the first Italian
soldier who enters Venice. Garibaldi, who
is reported to be calm and cheerful, has
formally accepted the command of the vol
unteers, and walks several miles every day,
in order, as he says, to accustom his legs to
long marches. lie always speaks of the
necessity of concord, and of forgetting all
personal dissensiOns; there being no longer
any grounds for mistruSt or suspicion. The
people have discovered coincidence"
which is accepted as happy augury-the
numbers at a public lottery just drawn in
Florence having been 80" and "6G"
The italian navy is in good order and of
formidable character. 1t is divided into
three squadrOns, comprising thirty vessels,
of which the he d'Itala Quilt at this port)
and six other frigates are ironcads. Ad-
miral Persano is in command.
Besides Benedek and Garibaldi, the gen.
erals who are assigned to commands in the
different armies are experienced and fa-
nous. The Austr ians have Marshal de
Hesse, who is 73 years old, and whose ca
reer dates from the battle of Wagram;
Prince Schwartzenberg, y years old, who
commanded Austrian cavalry in Italy in
1S4S, and was at Magenta and SOlferino in
1859; and Count Clam Gallas who has been
in active command since 1913. Marshal
Bededek is IS years old, and since the death
of RidetZky has been regarded as the first
warrior of Austria. While a colonel, in
lS4S he fought in the campaign against the
Piedmontese. In 1859 he commanded the
Eighth corps at San MartinO.
The Italian generals are thus sketched by
Florence letter-writer:
General La Marmora Is in person tall
thin man; his face displays very decided
nose, almost always surmOunted by the
fashionable eyeglasses. He has passion
for the military art, and is infleXible on all
points of discipline. He does not under
stand any fayortism, and Victor Emmanu-
el says jestingly that he has not credit
enough to name drummer in his own ar
N.Y. After General La MarmOra, the most
conspicuous soldier is General Cialdini; he
is a small, well-lookiDg man, with quick
and intelligent eye, wears great nous
tache and beard like the Chasseurs de
Vincennes. He is the only individual of
the Italian army to whom General La Mar
mora permits this eXcentricity, for he him
self is moustached cOnfOrmably to the reg
ulations. General Cialdini is very popular
in Italy, and passes for man of action and
resource, well knowing how to win his
men and give them all confidence. The
italian army possesses two other superior
generals, Durando and Della Rocca. The
former is veteran of Italian independence,
and is esteemed by everybody; the latter,
the first aid-de- camp to the King, is man
of about sixty, with white hair and NOUS
taches both being very distinguished Off
GERS" -
Among the items of warlike gossip is one
from Bohemia, to the effect that the peas
ants are preparing for a general ring in
case the Prussians should invade their ter
ritOry. They are actively engaged in pro-
curing arms and ammunition, and in con-
verting their agricultural implements into
weapons of attack. For instance, they are
loading their fails with iron and spikes,
fastening their scythes on long handles, as
the Poles did during the late insurrection.
Rumors that the French Government is
putting its army on war footing, and that
the military baking establishment at Nice
is engaged in preparing millions of rations,
are officially denied by the MoniteT de
af