There is no news at all from the theatre of war today. The 
only interesting item concerning the most recent Austrian war 
operations is another article today in the Augsburg Allgemeine 
Zeitung, the martial-law paper, which proves above all how low our 
contemporary journalists have sunk. The Kolnische Zettung is full of 
enthusiasm for Windischgratz and goes no further than expressing 
regret that he is a poor writer of German—as if his intentionally 
inept style were not ten times more adept than the language of the 
most profoundly conceived leading articles of the Koélnische Zeitung! 
If Windischgratz is “confused” and “obscure” in his reports that is 
only because he has intentionally made them confused and obscure, 
whether it be to conceal defeats or to make insignificant “advan- 
tages”, which the Magyars granted him of their own accord, appear 
to be outstanding victories. But the Kélnische Zeitung is not so stupid 
as it looks. It finds Windischgratz’s reports contradictory or obscure 
and confused. And what does it conclude from that? Not that 
Windischgratz is a bad commander-in-chief but rather a 
bad —stylist! 

Whether the K6lnische Zeitung is in the pay of Austria we do not 
know. But we do know that the Augsburger Zeitung is in Austria’s pay. 
And yet the Augsburger Zeitung is a thousand times more honest than 
the Kélnische Zeitung. 

Compare, for instance, yesterday’s article in that steadfast 
newspaper with the following lines taken from the Augsburg paper, 
whose lack of principles is well known: 

* A reference to the article “Ungarn” in the supplement to the Kélnische Zeitung 
No. 59, March 10, 1849.— Ed. 

From the Theatre of War 39 

“The complications in the Hungarian revolutionary war are unfortunately 
continuously growing. Until a few days ago, when he moved his headquarters to 
Gyongy6os, Field Marshal Prince Windischgratz remained on the defensive with the 
main body of the army, whilst the rebels were able to throw all their forces against the 
weakest points of our line, harass our detached units and often expose them to 
considerable danger. Whilst the rest of the army stands still, the Serbs, instead of 
operating concentrically with it, are conquering the Voivodina for themselves and 
somewhat more besides. Exposed to the bold operations of Bem in the strategically 
completely neglected Transylvania, Puchner has in his final moment of extreme need 
to seek Russian help in order to protect the Saxon towns, which alone in Transylvania 
have remained loyal to the Emperor, and all the victories of the ageing warrior, all the 
valour of his troops will not suffice to expel the rebel chief, who hour by hour can call 
upon the spare units of insurgents in Hungary as reinforcements, from the 
borderlands of that unfortunate country.” 

The extent to which the Magyar reports boil down to nothing 
more than “ridiculous exaggerations” is shown by the following fact. 
The Magyars announced that they had captured Erbach, the 
Austrians prudently kept quiet about the matter. Now the Deutsche 
Zeitung in Frankfurt writes on March 6: 

“Count Erbach, who, accompanied by only one dragoon, had been sent by General 
Schlick to Field Marshal Windischgratz, was attacked by a unit of Magyar insurgents 
and taken prisoner. He was taken off to Debreczin and has written several letters here 
from there. He has been treated very well, numerous old comrades received him 
warmly, and his letters are apt to give us a more favourable idea of the Magyars’ 
activity than one usually deduces from indirect reports.” 

The remaining news from Hungary is summarised in the 
following report from Vienna, which the Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung 
publishes: 

“The leaders of the Jewish community in Pest had gone to the camp of the Field 
Marshal to complain that payment of the arrears of the toleration tax>? amounting to 
110,000 florins had been demanded in cash in twenty-florin coins, and that all 
Hungarian Jewish communities had been made collectively responsible for treasona- 
ble crimes of individuals. The Prince dismissed the complaints in very ungracious 
terms, and particularly strong words are said to have fallen about delegates Fischhof 
and Goldmark.— The army, which has been brought up to a strength of 700,000 men 
and has been put on a war footing, costs so much that one could easily be accused of 
exaggerating when working out the figure; but it certainly costs far more than can be 
afforded on the basis of the resources of the country without resorting to 
extraordinary efforts. And only the peasants, who have been released from the 
personal obligations and land taxes, appear to be in a healthy state, all other classes 
without exception being sick and infirm. Having new taxes imposed on him would 
make an illusion of the letters patent of September 7, 1848 33 as far as the peasant is 
concerned, consequently for the time being the only expedients left are loans and, 
according to the signs so far, to an even greater extent paper money. The big barikers 

* This paragraph is taken from the article “Wien (naheres tiber die Schlacht bei 

Kapolna)” published in the Augsburg Allgemeine Zeitung No. 66, March 7, 1849.— Ed. 
b “Graf Erbach”, Deutsche Zeitung No. 66, March 7, 1849.— Ed. 

are constantly buying gold and silver, in the former particular preference being given 
to ring ducats and gold sovereigns. The Hungarian banknote crisis has by no means 
rendered this paper worthless, on the contrary, transactions are said to have been 
completed in Vienna and Pressburg yesterday in 5-florin and 100-florin notes at 86 
and 90. That is why an announcement in Pest (see below) had a soothing effect and 
revived trading in agricultural products, which was transacted almost exclusively in 
Hungarian banknotes; since no check has, as yet, been carried through on the 
banknotes already issued this leaves, so to speak, a loophole open for Kossuth’s 
banknote production. This much seems certain: there must be sound reasons for 
Prince Windischgratz to show such forbearance and restraint in Hungary in contrast 
to the procedure adopted in the Austrian provinces.” * 

Incidentally, it is now even more widely acknowledged than ever 
that the noble Windischgratz is hand in glove with the Magyar 
aristocrats such as the Josikas, the Széchenyis, the Esterhazys. These 
are the “sound reasons” that he has. And just a fortnight ago the 
Kolnische Zeitung was looking for the “higher nobility” in the 
Debreczin camp. Voila ce qui s’appelle des savants sérieux!” 

From the new royal imperial model state, which goes under the 
name of Serbska Voivodina, we hear the following news: 

“Semlin, February 24. At a general meeting held at Temesvar on the 15th of this 
month the internal administration of the Serbian Voivodina was organised in the 
following way: administrator and president of the Voivodina: Patriarch Josef 
Rajachich; vice-presidents: Joseph Rudics, Basil Fogarassy and Stretko Michailovich; 
heads of sections: 1. matters concerning the church: S. Kaéanski, abbot, with four 
advisers; 2. ecclesiastical affairs and education: Eugen Gjurkovich with four advisers; 
3. diplomatic affairs: Jacob Zivanovich with four advisers; 4. political questions: 
Marcus Popovich with five advisers; 5. economic and financial matters: Johann 
Suplikac with five advisers; 6. administration of the law: Thodor Radosavljevié 
with three advisers.— National secretary and director of the administrative office 
Johann Stankovich; secretary of the Voivodina Alex Stojackovic.—Supreme Court: 
chairman Carl Latinovich; vice-president Joseph Mathich with twelve members. 
Economic and financial department: chairman Georg Warsan; Joseph Iovanovich, 
treasurer; Franz, vice-controller; Kolarovich, keeper of accounts with four advisers. 
First national commissioner Michael* Krestié. Agents Kosta Iovanovich, 
Svetozazhulitich. 

“From this impartial election one can see that the Serbian deputies, worthy 
representatives of their constituents, having eliminated every trace of national hatred 
and religious differences—for Rudics, Fogarassy, Stein, Stminger and Wachtler are 
not Serbs and are adherents of the Catholic faith—bore strictly in mind only the 
elected people’s qualifications to hold the offices entrusted to them, and that they are 
intent on establishing equality of status of every nationality in the Voivodina. In 
addition to the heads of the sections mentioned, the deputies of every Serb community 
have also been summoned to Kikinda, where ‘sub Praesidio Patriarchae* they are laying 

* “Wien, 5. Marz”, Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung No. 68, March 9, 1849.— Ed. 

These are people called real scholars (Paul de Kock, L’amant de la lune).— Ed. 
© The name is given incorrectly in the newspaper; it should be “Nicola” .— Ed. 
4 Under the chairmanship of the Patriarch.— Ed. 

From the Theatre of War 4] 

the foundation of the constitution of the Serbian Voivodina and outlining its basic 
rights, and they will present this for approval to the Austrian Government” (Lloyd).* 

“‘Agram. To our great astonishment we have read a report from Constantinople in 
a Belgrade newspaper published in Serbian> according to which the Austrian 
internuncio,© Count Stürmer, had a conference with the Porte Minister for External 
Affairs? on February 7 and asked him: ‘What position does the Porte intend to adopt 
should the Austrian Slavs rise in revolt against the imperial Government?’ The answer 
was that the Porte would remain neutral. However the question raises much more 
far-reaching considerations in our minds than the answer does. Is it possible that the 
masses of Russian troops in the Danube principalities are also connected with a similar 
question of the royal imperial Government?” * 

to the Neue Rheinische Zeitung No. 243, time 

March 11, 1849 

2 “Semlin, 24. Februar”, Der Lloyd No. 107 (evening edition), March 3, 1849.— Ed. 

> Serbske Novine (Cp6cxe Hoeune).— Ed. 

© Title of the Austrian diplomatic representatives in Istanbul from 1678 to 
1856.— Ed. 

4 Ali Mehemet Pasa.— Ed. 

© Constitutionelles Blatt aus Bohmen No. 55, March 6, 1849.— Ed. 

42