The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-11-02
TEE ITALIAN STATESMEN AND GENERALS.


~~~-~~->~~>~@~~~>~~~~~~~~
The recent revelations and recrmnations touching
Prussia made In the Florence Parliament by General
della Marmora have been interpreted not only "a
symptom OF approaching war on the Continent, bur
as sgnifyng that the army of Italy has already been
secured by the French Emperor TO assist In carrying
outhis projects. However this may be, the reyea-
tons referred to have attained such notorety as to
justify glance into the record OF present Italian
notablites.
Alfonso della Marmora, the most conspicuous
Italian since Cayour, Is a Piedmontese by BIRTH OF
noble family aud over sixty years of age. He was
reared IN the Academia Mllitare OF Turin and en-
| tered the army of Carlo Alberto as lieutenant OF
cavalry. AT the disastrous battle or Novara in 1919,
which forced the ahdication of that SOVEREIGN aud
crushed to the ground Italian aspirations, La Mar
mora acquired the reputation that he has steadily
borne ever sinccthat OF brave and stubborn, but
| incompetent: fighter Notwithstanding this incom-
potency, Enthusiastically displayed, no was en-
abled not only to retain his position in the army
under the succeeding King, Victor Emanuel H., but
to rise by dint or unequaled courage ana
energy TO the military and political eminence he
lie has reached OF late years. Cavour knew well his
defects, yet he could do no better than to lift
lin up into chief command as War Minister in his
Cabinet and make him the armed representative OF
the "Italian question: in the face OF Europe.
cordingy he sent with fifteen thousand troops
| to the Crimea, where he was enabled to acqut HIM
self passaby well. owing to the very slight part he
took in the proceedings against the Russians. Dur
| ing the campaign OF 1859 he was reduced to the
status Of an automat0n nomnally commanding the
italian wing of the allied army. Marshal Mel and
| Napoleon Ill. were too well acquainted with the
Italianisslmo General to allow him any real control
! over his sixty Thousand men such an important
fold that nf SoIfn AffcrV In fran In
Marmora reappeared prominently in 1856, both as
| Prime Minister and Generalissimo OF Italy. In the
beginning OF that year he formed the alliance with
Prussia to expel the Austrians from Veneta; and, in
accordance Herewith a plan OF campaign was for
warded to him from Berlin for the guidance OF the
| Italian army. Bismarck 1t seems, also believes in
automatons But La Marmora, thus rudely wounded
In his own concet, dsregarded Moltkes plan, blum
dered headlong into the very heart Of the Quadrila
teral and allowed the Austrians to enclose him in
! their steel trap ut their leisure. Consequent
| ~, while the battle Of Custozza exhibited
| an improvement IN fighting the part
OF the Italian soldiers it only proved once
again the military incapacity OF their old martinez
commander Since then La Marmora has been dill
gently engaged In explaining away his defeat; and
his recent revelations IN regard to the plan, policy
! ana general treatment inflicted on him by Bismarck
| appear to lrave been soothing balm unto himself
and his compatriots He has always been warm par
tisan OF the French alliance, or rather tool OF the
French Emperor. In politics La Marmora was early
forced to Join the liberal school Of Cavour, who
taught him the most liberal principles with regard
TO the rights OF property ana person as illustrated
by the noble counts famous cectment Of the priests,
| monks and nuns from their churches and converts
| In 1876. 1t is not strange, therefore, that he
should be a devout believer in brute force, militia
rily disciplined and applied to the execution OF Glib
eral prlnciples on like scale. One OF his favorte
pastmes when organizing the Sandman army con-
sisted in occupying himself in the petest and most
insignificant details OF the service; parading the
ardinans in the streets day arrayed in certain
set ofcoat buttons certain formal cut Of beard, and
In certain uniform colors and then reversing alter
! ing the display the very day after. Such amusing
| expermentaons In the steps to attain 1nality or
ideal Of uniform for King Yictor's troops would last
| for weeks-aye, for months-at time; but never at
| anT time did the grave and busy LII Marmora pay
attention to the satrcal cuts and jokes of the Els
Ghetto. lie s by no means popular with the taans
I yet though he IL now reduced to simple deputy's
seat in Parliament 1t Il not unlikely he will again
loom up IN the highest military and political position
rs the proteg6 OF Louis Napoleon. He Is especially
notorious for looking downwards upon Cart
| bald 4 Co.. snubbing downright all volunteers
Regular troops are his pets. In ls estimation OF the
| regular army-whlch he claims to have created-he
|
loneliness TO absurd dcgree hence the superior
ity so marked OF the French officers and soldiers over
hts army in 1853, and upon the plains OF Lombardy,
aroused his jealousleS 10 the flaming point. What
between the latter and the charge OF ingratude cast
| into their teeth lrom France, 1.-THE Frenchman" is
! almost as odious to-day among the Italians was
| only lately the German.n The scale may possibly
slightly incline towards Francese because u Iedes-
Italians vociferously decline all bonds OF obligation
10 any nation whatsoever on the ground that great
| nation oil the first water cannot permit or accept
dictaon from "the foreigner.r They claim that the
new Kingdom, according to tho Nol,d,fud-aa-se
doctrine OF Carlo Alberto, and will suffice unto
itself. Just as loudly on the other side do the French
constantly assert their utter inability TO understand
| why their Emperor sacrificed their blood ana trea-
| ItaansW SO runs the little quarrel in the great
Latin family l. remains for the Emperor to ex-
Not notorious warrior "a La Marmora but a far
more competent and successful one Ia General Enrico
OF 'oo-,eS had actively served in the armies Of
| foreign governments and had received high reward
| greatly augmented OF late years, ia endless. and his
| gala uniform displays an unequaled number OF
canparn Of 1850 and espccialy AZ the battle a Of
! Palestro he distinguished himself over all the other
Italian generals. But his greatest achievement the
which spread his fame extensively, was his de-
feat in $780, OF the Pope's army under LamorcIere.
! TO defeat not only Pope's army, but at the same
time the most renowned and able French general OF
the day, elevated him 20 the highest pinnacle IN the
eyes OF his countrymen, while It secured him eternal
dlmnation from Plus tx. or course he up high
on the list OF communicated aud Illuminated along
with King Vittorio and Count Cavour IL must be re-
collected IN fairness to the just fame OF Lamorclere,
that Ciadni possessed all the advantage OF superior
Numbers and morale at the battle OF Castelfdardo.
Since that day he has occupied the position Of First
corps commander in the army he Ia very much
liked both by the citizens and tue soldiers account
OF rare energy and ability Joined to the most sterling
patriotism. lie Is yet In his pr.me.
| The other Italian generals, or the subordinate
| division commanders, have only local reputation,
and not deserving OF mention beyond the fact hat
they were formerly Garibllds lieutenants ia Bonba
| days when he waged war on his own hook. To-day
most OF tue officers OF tho Italian army are from
| Piedmont, the old province that has always mani
l tested the military spirit and is now the nucleus
around which conscripton has gathered the swafthy
Tuscans and the dark-hued HeapOlitlns. But WINE
the piednOnicse officers have given TO new ltdly
their military spirit and education, thcy nave also
contributed all the brutality OF discipline copied
from the Austrian system and oil the marrow ihuea'
| ness which so distinguish them. inc conscYuc.Se