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CHAPTER III.

WAR IN GERMANY (Continued).

Capitulation of the Hanoverian army to the Prussians-Manifestoes of the Emperor of Austria to the Hungarians and his people-Occupation of Frankfort by the Prussians -Advance of the Prussian armies into Moravia-Negotiations for an armisticeEngagement between the Prussians and Austrians at Blumenau-Retreat of the Austrians under General Benedek from Olmütz to Presburg-Concentration of the Austrian army round Vienna-Treaty of peace between Prussia and Austria at Prague-Review of the campaign in other parts of Germany-Territorial aggrandizement of Prussia.

Ar the moment when Prussia declared war against Austria, the Hanoverian army was on a peace footing, but the greatest exertions were immediately made to strengthen it, and it was ordered to concentrate itself at Gottingen. From this place it marched on the 21st of June, to Heiligenstadt, and on the 23rd, to Langensalza. Afterwards continuing their advance, on approaching Eisenach, the Hanoverians found that it was occupied by the Prussians, under General von Falkenstein. They wheeled round and turned back in the direction of Langensalza, when, on the 27th, near Merxlelen, on the left bank of the Unstrut, they were attacked by the Prussians, and a severe contest ensued, in which the Hanoverians claimed the victory as they repelled the enemy, but were unable, from exhaustion, to follow up their success. Next day the Prussians, in far superior numbers, surrounded the Hanoverians, who were concentrated near Langensalza, and who, finding themselves cut off on all sides, were compelled to capitulate. They were, however, treated with all the honours of war, undertaking not to serve against Prussia during the rest of the campaign.

In the sitting of the Federal Diet at Frankfort on the 27th of June, Prince Charles of Bavaria was appointed Commander-inChief of the Federal Army, and he was instructed to act in cooperation with and under the directions of General Benedek.

On the 7th of July, the Emperor of Austria issued the following Manifesto to the Hungarians, addressed

"TO THE FAITHFUL PEOPLES OF MY KINGDOM OF HUNGARY. "The hand of Providence weighs heavily upon us. In the conflict into which I have been drawn, not voluntarily, but through the force of circumstances, every human calculation has been frustrated, save only the confidence I placed in the heroic bravery of my valiant army. The more grievous are the heavy losses by which the ranks of those brave men have been smitten; and my

paternal heart feels the bitterness of that grief with all the families affected. To put an end to the unequal contest-to gain time and opportunity to fill up the voids occasioned by the campaign-and to concentrate my forces against the hostile troops occupying the northern portion of my Empire, I have consented, with great sacrifices, to negotiations for the conclusion of an armistice.

"I now turn confidently to the faithful peoples of my Kingdom of Hungary, and to that readiness to make sacrifices so repeatedly displayed in arduous times.

"The united exertions of my entire Empire must be set in motion, that the conclusion of the wished-for peace may be secured upon fair conditions.

"It is my profound belief that the warlike sons of Hungary, actuated by the feeling of hereditary fidelity, will voluntarily hasten under my banners, to the assistance of their kindred, and for the protection of their country, also immediately threatened by the events of the war.

"Rally, therefore, in force to the defence of the invaded Empire! Be worthy sons of your valiant forefathers, whose heroic deeds gained never-fading wreaths of laurel for the glory of the Hungarian name.

"FRANCIS JOSEPH."

And on the 10th of July, the Emperor issued another Manifesto :

"To my Peoples,-The heavy misfortune which has befallen my Army of the North, notwithstanding its most heroic resistance to the enemy, the increased dangers thereby menacing the Fatherland, the calamities of war with which my beloved Kingdom of Bohemia is being desolated, and which threaten other parts of my Empire, and the painful and irreparable losses sustained by so many thousands of families among my subjects, have moved to its inmost core my heart, which beats with so warm and fatherly a feeling for the good of my peoples. But the reliance which I expressed in my Manifesto of the 17th of June-a reliance on your unalterable and faithful devotion and readiness for any self-sacrifice -a reliance on the courage of my army, which even misfortune cannot subdue-a reliance upon God and my good and sacred right this has not wavered for a single instant. I have addressed myself to the Emperor of the French, requesting his good offices for bringing about an armistice with Italy. Not merely did the Emperor readily respond to my demand, but, with the noble intention of preventing any further bloodshed, he even, of his own accord, offered to mediate with Prussia for a suspension of hostilities, and for opening negotiations for peace. This offer I have accepted. I am prepared to make peace upon honourable conditions, in order to put an end to the bloodshed and ravages of war. But I will never sanction a treaty of peace by which the fundamental conditions of Austria's position as a great Power would be shaken.

Sooner than that should be the case, I am resolved to carry on the war to the utmost extremity, and in this I am sure of my peoples' approval.

"All available troops are being concentrated, and the gaps in the ranks of the army are being filled up by the conscription which has been ordered and the large enrolments of volunteers, called to arms by the newly-awakened spirit of patriotism.

"Austria has been severely visited by misfortune, but she is not humiliated or bowed down.

"My Peoples,-Have confidence in your Emperor. The peoples of Austria have never shown themselves greater than in misfortune.

"I will follow the example of my forefathers, and will lead you on with determination, perseverance, and unshakable confidence in God.

"FRANCIS JOSEPH."

On the 14th of July, the remaining representatives of the German Bund abandoned Frankfort and retired to Augsburg. But the Diet was by the force of events virtually extinct, and will appear no more in history. Two days afterwards the Prussians occupied the city, and a heavy contribution was imposed upon the inhabitants 2.

Brünn, the capital of Moravia, was occupied by the Prussian troops forming the First Army on the 12th of July, while the Second Army, under the Crown Prince, and the Army of the Elbe, continued their march southwards, the one on the left and the other on the right flank. Moravia was now abandoned by the Austrians, and Prince Frederick Charles occupied Lundenburg junction on the 17th of July. Communication between the strong fortress of Olmütz and Vienna was thus cut off. On the 14th, the Prussian Army of the Elbe had reached Znaym, about fifty miles from Vienna.

In the meantime, the negotiations for an armistice were, as we have mentioned, going on, and it was agreed that it should commence on the 22nd of July. Unfortunately, however, on that day, owing to some misapprehension on the subject, another engagement took place between the troops of Prince Frederick Charles and the Austrians, in which the latter had decidedly the worst of it. In order to protect Presburg, they had occupied the

2 The following was the order made upon the inhabitants for the supply of provisions for their unwelcome guests :

"Officers, functionaries ranking as officers, sergeant-majors, ensigns, and sub-officers acting as officers, have a right to demand-in the morning, coffee with accessories; at noon, soup, meat, vegetables, a roast, and a bottle of wine; in the afternoon, coffee, &c.; at night, a light supper, and eight good cigars per diem. The soldiers quartered upon the citizens are to receive from the latter-in the morning, coffee with accessories; at noon, one pound of meat, vegetables, and bread, and a half-bottle of wine; in the evening, a petit souper, with a jug of beer and eight cigars per diem. The quality of the provisions must be such as to satisfy the requirements of the soldiers."

village of Blumenau, which is about five miles from the town; and three Prussian divisions, under General Fransky, were posted in the road which leads through Blumenau to Presburg, at a short distance from the village. Thinking he could take Presburg, and there easily effect a passage across the Danube, General Fransky despatched a message to Prince Frederick Charles at Ebenthal, asking to be allowed to attack Blumenau. This was in the night of the 20th of July. The Prince, not being aware that an armistice would be agreed to, gave the required permission; and General Fransky immediately ordered his troops to advance. The road along which they had to march runs below the westerly spur of the Carpathian mountains which rise abruptly on the left. At Blumenau, it leads straight to Presburg through a defile in the hills, and is crossed close to the village by the railway that runs from Gänserdorf to Presburg. The Austrian position was covered by woods and broken ground, and their centre held the villages of Blumenau and Katterbrun. Their left occupied fir-woods stretching towards the March, and their right extended from Blumenau about half-a-mile up the lower spurs of the Carpathian hills. Two Prussian regiments under General Bose were sent forward by a mountain path to gain the rear of the Austrians and cut off their retreat to Presburg, while General Fransky attacked their position in front. He came upon the enemy between Katterbrun and Blumenau, and the artillery immediately opened on both sides. The cavalry also became engaged; but the Austrian lancers were no match for the Prussian hussars, and after a short struggle they broke and fled. The cannonade became hotter in the centre, and the battle was furiously raging when suddenly an officer arrived from the quarters of Prince Frederick Charles to announce that an armistice had been agreed to, and was to commence at noon that day. General Fransky, however, fearing for General Bose, who had marched forward by the mountain path, did not think it safe to put a stop to the engagement, which was continued by the artillery for two hours longer, and then he ordered a general advance. In the meantime, General Bose had debouched from the mountains on the Gämsen Berg and there fell in with an Austrian brigade, which he drove back after a severe struggle, and placed his troops across the road and railway, thus cutting off the Austrians who were engaged with General Fransky from their line of retreat to Presburg in case they were obliged to give way. The combat in the neighbourhood of Blumenau was still vigorously going on, when an Austrian officer advanced with a flag of truce; and as the period fixed for the commencement of the armistice had expired, both sides were ordered to cease firing. The Austrians then found to their astonishment that the Prussians, under General Bose, were in their rear, and were able fully to realize the peril of their position. This was the last action fought during the war; and if the armistice had not intervened, it seems

impossible to doubt that the Austrians would have suffered in it another defeat.

It had been the intention of General Benedek, after the disaster at Königgrätz, to concentrate his shattered army at Olmütz,-but as we have already mentioned, he was deprived of the chief command, and he was ordered to withdraw his troops across the Danube to defend the capital. This, however, was no easy task, for the Prussians were in such force between Olmütz and Vienna that if he attempted to march directly upon the capital he would have been forced to fight a battle, with the almost absolute certainty of having to suffer another crushing defeat. But before the Prussians had occupied the intervening country he was able to despatch by railway to Vienna a considerable number of troops, and the remainder consisted of five corps with whom, after imminent hazards, he succeeded in reaching Presburg.

On the 12th of July the First Corps was sent forward to occupy Prerau, and on the 14th two other corps followed, and marching by way of Tobitschau, Kajetein, Zaemeik, and Hradisch, arrived in Presburg almost without opposition. General Benedek with the remaining corps left the lines at Olmütz on the 15th, but they had to fight their way in several severe encounters until they reached Presburg on the Danube in safety.

The concentration of the Imperial armies at Vienna caused great alarm amongst the inhabitants of the capital, who feared that the city might be besieged, and, in case the Prussians were victorious, would be given up to pillage. To reassure them, the Emperor declared-"Vienna will not be an object of defence. It is my will that it be treated as an open (defenceless) city. Although the tête du pont on the Danube has been fortified, it is not for the defence of the city. It is simply a measure of defence against the passage of the Danube on the part of the Prussians, who may, perhaps, try to cross that river in several places. It is possible that the precautionary measure may prove to be of no avail, but we are obliged to take it. It must not be said of Austria, that, having suffered a defeat, she lost courage, and, renouncing all hope, tamely allowed the enemy to cross the Danube."

An immense intrenched camp surrounded Vienna on the north side of the Danube, and within the lines the bulk of the army was assembled at the village of Florisdorf, on the river, a short distance from the capital.

The preliminaries for a Treaty of Peace between Austria and Prussia were signed at Nikolsburg, on the 26th of July; but the negotiations afterwards were carried on at Prague, and there the Treaty itself was definitively signed on the 23rd of August. The following were the chief articles of this important document :

"ART. I.

"For the future there shall be lasting peace and friendship

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