FROM THE THEATRE OF WAR 


[ITALY] 


The military operations are beginning to appear in clearer outline. 
While the Piedmontese have crossed the Ticino at Buffalora, 
Radetzky has crossed it at Pavia and is stationed between the Ticino 
and the Po on Piedmontese territory. 

Whether this attack is merely a diversion, or whether Radetzky 
actually intends to advance on Turin, is not yet clear. The latter is 
possible if the report sent from Turin on the 21st to the Journal des 
Débats is accurate*: that as a result of the addition of the Parma and 
Modena garrisons his army has increased to 60,000-70,000 men with 
120 guns and that so far the Piedmontese have only 55,000 to 
65,000 men with 100 to 110 guns to oppose to Radetzky. But these 
assertions are absolutely false, at least as concerns the Piedmontese 
army. Furthermore, La Marmora’s corps, which has advanced to 
Parma, will force Radetzky to make further detachments. 

In short Radetzky stands on Piedmontese territory. This is due to 
the negligence or treachery of the notorious Ramorino, who had 
already played an ambiguous role in Poland in 1831 and in the Savoy 
campaign in 1834.'°* He is to be thanked for the fact that the 
Austrians succeeded in pushing their way along the Po between his 
division and that of Durando. Ramorino was immediately removed 
from command and called to account for his action. 

Chrzanowski is making the following dispositions of his forces in 
response to Radetzky’s manoeuvre: Durando from Stradella, Fanti, 
who has replaced Ramorino, and one of the divisions moving out 
from the headquarters at Vigevano towards the Po will make a 


* This refers to a report published in the Journal des Débats on March 26, 
1849.— Fd. 




frontal attack on the Austrians, while the division commanded by the 
Duke of Genoa, a force of 20,000, which has crossed the Ticino at 
Buffalora, is marching on the Lombardic bank of the river to Pavia, 
to cut off the Austrians’ retreat. 

If Radetzky has insufficient forces to resist the Piedmontese, it may 
well happen that the old fox will fall into a trap and be encircled and 
destroyed. But in any case, by his advance he has provoked a decisive 
battle, the outcome of which we should learn today, or, at the latest, 
tomorrow. 

The rest of Chrzanowski’s plan of operations is quite in accord 
with that which we indicated yesterday* as the more probable plan. 
While La Marmora is stirring up the inhabitants of the Dukedoms? 
to rebel and advancing on the extreme left wing of the Piedmontese 
to the Po, or across it, Favorola’s division has advanced via Varese 
into the Lombard mountains. A Lombard revolutionary committee is 
accompanying him. The insurrection is spreading at a rapid pace. 
On the 20th, the insurgents of the Piedmontese border made contact 
with those from Veltlin and the Upper Comasca in Como. As soon as 
the Austrians left a locality, the insurrection was organised. All of 
them are marching upon Milan; individual Austrian detachments 
are said already to have been attacked and destroyed by the 
insurgents. On the 21st, a general insurrection was to break out 
throughout Lombardy. According to the Patrie the uprising has 
already broken out in Milan, but the Patrie lies notoriously. In any 
case, preparations have been made in Milan which testify to the 
Austrian commandant’s fears of the insurrection and of reinforce- 
ments from the countryside. 

Perhaps the Swiss papers will also bring important news at noon 
today, and, if so, we will communicate it to our readers under “Latest 
News”.