The Paris correspondent of the Times gives a curious account
of an interview granted by M. 011ivier to a newspaper reporter on the twenty-sixth anniversary of his fall. France, he declares, was assured of the alliance of Austria and Italy. " So certain were these alliances that the plan of campaign for which the Emperor has been so much blamed, the parcelling out, that is, of the army corps along the frontier, was imposed upon us by the Austrian military staff. Our troops were even disposed according to the plans of the Archduke Albert that we might the more easily support him when he should arrive at the head of the army." Even, he goes on to say, "if the alliances failed us, even if we were abandoned by all, we were to be victorious, for the first victory would have sufficed to de- cide the final hesitations of Austria and Italy, then intimidated by the support that Russia gave to Germany." He next states that but for the hesitation of the Emperor the first victory must have been with France, for she was ready mobilised on July 30'.11, while Germany was not mobilised till August 9th. However that may be, the statement as to Austria and Italy is a very curious piece of contemporary history, and shows the boldness of Prince Bismarck. He must have calculated on Austria and Italy holding back at the last moment, and he calculated rightly. Still, the risk was enormous, and only a man of colossal strength of character would have done as he did.
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