East Saginaw courier., 1866-07-12

ties of which the Empire of Austria
consists may well be used in case of
need, one against another, yet each of
them adheres to its ow National aspi-
rations, and is always ready to use
every opportunity presenting Itself for
their furtherance. A situation like the
present, in which the Emperor is
obliged TO call upon the hearty coop
Grafton of all his peoples, is not un-
likely to be taken advantage of for
such purposes. Although on the whole
the response TO the call to arms is sat-
isfactory enough, we learn that the
Hungarians are by no means inclined
to aid the Emperor with anything like
ardor and enthusiasm, unless the de-
mands they have never ceased pressing
since lS4s, be complied with. AS to
Venetia, the Italian province of Aus
tria, it is evident that the population
will be, to a man, hostile to Austria in
the impending struggle; and already
are all the regiments raised by Aus
tria in that province transported to
other parts of the Empire, where they
will have to fight, not against Italians
but against Prussians, to whom they
are not bound by any ties of national
sympathy. 1t is expected, however,
that, well aware of the understanding
existing between Prussia and the
Kingdom of Italy, many of them win
desert the Austria colors and go over
TO the enemy.
One OF the principal difficulties Aus
tria has to contend with consists in
the precarious condition of her inan-
ces. For several generations Austria
has beer proverbially bankrupt. The
Napoleonic wars left her finances in a
state of utter prostration; there was a
slow, gradual improvement from 1878
to 1913, when the revolutionary gale
swept over Europe, shaking the Aus
trian Empire to its very foundations,
and bringing it again near the verge
of absolute bankruptcy. Austria had
hardly somewhat recovered from the
shock when the Crimean war, during
which she had TO maintain an EARNED
neutrality" and the Italian war again
reproduced the same embarrassment.
The gigantic armaments she is now
making render her financial condition
almost hopeless. The annual expen-
d.tures over receipts, which has been
very great almost from time immemo-
rial, must be appalling; and it would
seem almost lncedible that the despe-
rate shifts and expedients by which
she has extricated herself from so
many distressing difficulties hereto
fore should still prove available this
time.
That Austria, burdened with such a
i load of embarrdssments, should un-
dertake great war against so form
liable "a combination as that Italy and
Prussia would almost seem an act of
temerity. And yet this is not the first
time that Austria has undertaken sim
liar things under similar circumstan-
ces; and If the art 10 make war with
out money has anywhere been reduced
to science 10y frequent successful ex-
periments, it is In Austria. Desperate
and hopeless as the situation would
seem to any other man, to an Austrian
it seems merely familiar.
The Austrian army is over 700, 900
men strong on war footing; proba-
bly, at present not far from e00, 1000.
1t contains some of the best fighting
material in the world. The Hunga-
rian cavalry, the German and Bohem-
+ ian infantry, the Tyroese and Syrian
sharp-shooters are without superiors.
4 he many reverses Austria has suffer-
ed on the field of battle were owing
not the quality of men, but to the in
efficiency of their commanders. The
Austrian soldiers always fought well
when well lead, and it is likely that
they will be well lead in the coming
war, at least on one theater of opera
tons. General Benedek, the COM
mander of the Austrian army concen-
trated near the Prussian frontier, is
no doubt vastly superior to any Gene
raj she has had since the death of Ra-
detzki. 1t was he who in the battle
of Solferino, when he commanded the
extreme right of the Austrians, COM
pletely defeated the Italians, while the
rest OF the Austrian army gave way
before the French. HIS appointment
to the most important command now
was certainly fortunate one. While
) he has the full confidence of the Off
GERS, he is adored 10y the men. 1t is
, probable that the Austrian armies to
operate against Prussia will be at least
300, 900 strong, while from $50, 900 to
200, 900 will be considered sufficient to
hold the quadrilateral against the Ital-
T ians in the meantime.
: Prussia presents in many respects a
} favorable contrast TO Austria. Hel
/ population is more homogeneous, il
+ being all German except 1900, 900
: her debt is light, her finances in good
r order, and the administration well reg.
, ulated. The Prussian army, on wal
4 footing, amounts to about GOO, ,000. II
is well drilled and admirably armed
Y the Prussian breech- -lolding needle
Q gun being better musket than any
other European army can boast Of In
: all these respects Prussia would be il
4 an excellent condition to undertake q
? war. Although greatly inferior tc
A Austria in territory and population
0 she would have no reason to dread Q
! single-handed contest with Austria
1 were her moral condition equal to hel
n physical. While in Austria the popu
!. lation, with the exception of Hungary
o and Italy, comes to the support of thu
: Government, If not with enthusiasm
' at least with Willingness, the Prussiar
J, people, a small party excepted, are VIC
;, lently opposed to the war The Ions
t and tedious struggle between th'
/ Crnun and tho Ranrnannt tiua sea,n