New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-07-17
THE EUROPEAN WAR.


and its sudden end. Ever since the revolutionary
year of 15i5 had pushed the question Of Italian and
German unity into the foreground OF European
politics, a war between Austria and Italy and
q civil war in Germany had come to be
looked upon as the inevitable transition of those
countries from tho condition in which they
had been placed by the Treaty Of Vienna into con-
dition more in harmony with the popular will. The
conflict, it was thought, once started in Italy and
Germany would not fail to involve the neighboring
countries which, either as Poland and Turkey, had
the same question to solve or like France, were sus
pected Of desire to turn general European war to
their own advantage. The German-Itaian war has
thus for many years been looked upon as the ire
pressble conflict Of Europe, and the entire press OF
America and Europe have for years been anxiously
waiting for the first shot," and been specializing on
its terrific results and far.reaching consequences.
After such anticpations, it is naturally difficult TO
realize that the great war which to usher in the
new era in the history Of Europe should close about
a fortnight after its opening. We have not seen q
single prominent paper in either hemisphere that was
prepared for such an unparalleled success of Prussaor
so sudden collapse Of Austria. Italy we doubt not,
would have justified the fondest hopes of its millions
of friends, but the war closed before she had had
fair opportunity to mature and carry out her plans.
As regards the Prussan victory, it may be said to
be without parallel in the history Of Europe. When
Prussia on the 14th of june treated the famous reso-
luton of the Frankfort Diet as dissolution
of tho Confederation and q declaration OF war,
she took up the gauntlet against an Empire number
IS 900 900 people and Confederation containing
Is 900 900 more, as all or nearly all of the States,
it was thought, would be compelled by the majority
to fight for unfolding the authority OF
the Diet Against this power she had only popu-
lation of 9OOOO 900 to fall back upon. Austria, it
was thought would keep strictly on the defensive in
Italy, and hurl the bulk of her army reinforced by
the whole Federal army, upon Prussia, in order to
crush her before she could get relief by the aggres'
siye moyanenfs of Italy. r'.-
Confederates there has never been in modern history
a more signal failure. A few days after the passage
of the resolution to mobilize the Federal army,
Prussia had control of fully four.ffths of all
the States oil the Confederation, and before
the Federal army had been fully collected
and organized for battle and even before.
the Diet had formally declared war against her
the Confederation was actually dissolved, and
Austria, her only protector, conquered. Such
was the disgraceful termination of disgraceful
existence, and if anything soothe the violent
animosity which the people Of the Southern German
States feel against the Prussan ascendancy it must
be this most ingorous end of the Old Confederation.
The fate of the Confederation was in accordance
with the common expectation of the German Liberals.
Great as has been the want of harmony of the political
A. ;v
ton TO the Federal Diet which has fulfilled no mission
in the history Of Germany except to impede its
political progress. --.-e-
But expectations quite different had been enter
tanned with regard to Austria. She was believed to
have a larger army aud better generals If defeated
in great battle she was supposed by her friends TO
find it easier to recruit her armies than Prussia
When Prussia entered Saxony II was expected that
Benedek was fully prepared for the campaign and
would get the start of the Prussians in occupy
ing Dresden. His plans which were said to
embrace the separation of the two great Prussian
armies the occupation of Silesa and the march upon
Berlin eagerly canyassed than the plans of
Prussia. Nothing can be more Notifying for the
friends and admirers of Austria than to compare
their speculations on the opening of the campaign
with the subsequent occurrences. BeDedek was not
ready to defend SaxonY when Prussia was ready
10 attack her. He even was unprepared to
dispute the passage Of he whole of the
two great Prussian armies through the mountains
which constitute so formidable a defense of the
Bohemian frontier. When, finally, the advancing
hosts of the Prussans had to be encountered and
bloody and desperate battles ensued at Nachod,
Skalitz, and Trantenau, with the Army of Slesia
under the Crown Prince, and at Munchengratz, Tur-
nau, and Gitschin, with the Army of the Elbe under
Prince Frederic Charles, the issue was an UNI
interrupted defeat of the Austrians After some
attempts TO disguise it, the official kilograms of
Austria at length admitted what could no
longer be concealed. Benedek found out that, in his
address to his army, he had made frightul mistake
in undertaking the effect of the breach-loading rifles
of the Prussians The bayonet was not found, as he
had predicted, an equivalent and too late did he dis
cover that he had nothing to parry their wonderful
efficiency.
The first great object of the operations of Benedek
to prevent the junction of the two Prussian armies
was found to be failure. The army Of silesia
moving westward from Nachod and Trantenau did
effect junction with the army Of the Elbe, after the
capture by the latter Of the town of GitSchin To
arrest and repel them, one other great effort was
risked. The Austrian army, which had been con-
centrated between the fortresses of Josephstad and
Koniggratz, met the combined armies of the enemy
on the Sd of July momentous battle lasting all
day, was fought chiefly at little place called sado-
wa, on the road from Koniggratz to fits"h''. "h~
Austrians fought bravey, but tho issue broke Nor
power annihated her hopes and laid her PROSTATE al
the feet of the victor. vvas Austria h..