Year: 1859

Russell LETTERS TO THE "LoNDoN TINES"


BREsCIA, June 20, p. m.-Since | wrote this
morning the situation is considerably altered again.
The Austrians, who had, as told you, returned
yesterday to Montechiaro, left it again last night
leaving behind them anumber oftheir own wounded
and about twenty of Garibaldi's men, who had been
wounded in the engagement on the 18th inst. in
that neighborhood, and who had remained in the
hands OF the enemy. Two of these latter, who are
only slightly wounded, came up this afternoon
AS pendent to this piece of news, which is GER
tain, there is the evacuation of Tomato reported
which must be confirmed before it can be credited.
Our dUont gdrde is close to Montechiaro, the King,
who was to have transferred his headquarters in
that direction to-day, is still here. -. .aa


IL these continual advances and retreats on the
Mluclo leave still in doubt about the plans of the
Austrlans, there seems to be some light thrown
upon them from another side-namely, information
has reached us that the enemy is advancing over
the Stelvio pass. This pass connects the valley of
the AIDA with the valley of the higher Adge, both
OF which are the two main issues from Tyrol into
Lon hardy. The pass itself is Just on the frontier
between the two countries and Switzerland. This
is an important point in warfare which is to be
exclusively Italian and not to touch any part of
the Austrian dominions which forms part of the
German Confederation, for il leaves open to the
Austrians position from which they can debouch
at any moment, and to which they can withdraw
again without any danger of being pursued.


Nor has this advantage, it seems been overlooked
by the Austrians, for long before the war began
in anticipation of such a contingency, thev did
every ytnlng 10 Improve TINS important line o.
munication, and, according to people who have
lately been in that direction. the road is as good
and as convenient as any can be on such high
level. Not content with this main communications
the Austrians have made branch from the AIDA
valley into the Oglio, leading down to Lake Iseo.
If it is not mere demonstration, with which the
Austrians intend to turn off part of army from
its next object then this advance means diversion
IN our rear, to endanger our communications. The
idea of such a diversion is not quite new; it was
once before attempted, in 1885, by the first Aus
trian army under Wurmser, which came to the re-
lief of Mantua. True, then the diversion was not
on so grand scale, the westerly shore of the Lake
of Garda having been chosen for it; but if one re-
members that then there were only small armies
of from 1000 to 900 arrayed against each other
and that neither railways nor telegraphs existed,
think the proportion will be about the same There
is, besides another element which now comes into
play, and which is in favor of the AIlies-this is
the spirit of the people in all the towns on which
one can reckon. of course this would avail little
against large army but unless the Austrians have
100000 men together thev cannot without weaken
ing themselves considerably in their strongholds
send off force large enough to be dangerous


In the meantime measures have been taken to de-
prive this thorn of its point without weakening in
any way the forces which acting on the offensive
in this neiphhorhnod