7 MAY 1859, Page 7

THE WAR.

The French troops entered. Piedmont three days before the Austrians crossed the frontier. On the 26th some regiments had arrived at Genoa by sea, and the advanced guard of the columns which have since poured over Mont Cenis were at Susa. Thenceforward the French horse, foot, and artillery (the new rifled guns, " very light") crossed the mountains at the rate of 5000 a day. In all 60,000 troops were to pass. Early on the 30th the French entered Turin and were received there with every demonstration of joy. General Canrobert and General Niel reached Turin on the 29th, and that same day they accompanied the King on a visit of inspection to the defensive works thrown up behind the Dora Baltea. On the 1st May the King left Turin to take command of the army, having previously issued the following address to the soldiers. " Soldiers ! Austria, who is increasing her armies on our frontier, and threatens to invade our territory because here liberty reigns with order — because, not might, but concord and affection between tut) people and order,— because, Sovereign here govern the State—because the groans of oppressed Italy hero find an echo—Austria dares to ask us, who are only armed in self-defence, to lay down our arms and submit to her clemency. That insulting demand received the reply it deserved. I rejected it with contempt. Soldiers I tell it to you, convinced that you will take an insult to your King and your nation as an insult to yourselves. The announcement I make to you is the announcement of war! Soldiers, to arms. You will have to face an enemy not new to you. But if brave and disciplined you need not fear the comparison, and you may quote with pride the battles of Goito, Pastren Santa Lucia, Somma Compagna, and even Custozza, where four b es alone struggled for three days against five corps d'urmee. I will lead you. We have made each other's acquaintance before this, on more than one oc- casion, in the heat of battle, when, fighting by the side of my mag- nanimous father, I had opportunity to admire your courage. I am sure that on the field of honour and of glory you will maintain, even add to, your reputation for bravery. You will have for companions those intrepid soldiers of France, conquerors in so many noted battles, who were your brethren-in-arms on the Tchernaya, and whom Napoleon III., who is al- ways to be found where there is a just cause to defend or civilization to pro- mote, sends generously to our assistance in numerous battalions. March, then, confident in victory, and twine new laurels round your flag, that tri- colour under the folds of which the elite of the youth of Italy is collec

and which indicates to you that the task before you is the independence of Italy--that just and holy work which will be your battle-cry. "Turin, April 27. Vwron Faussnem."

By this time the French, employing transports and men of war, had filled Genoa with soldiers. The place looked like a camp. Regiments of the Line, Zouaves, Algerines, were quartered in and out of the town, and no doubt some were sent towards Novi.

In the meantime, as we stated last week, the Austrians crossed the Ticino at several places. They occupied the towns of Intra, Palletize, and Arone on the Lego Maggiore and pushed forward to Cussolo. They appeared at Novara, Mortara, Gravellona, Vespolate. General Gyulai, made Governor-General and Commander- in-Chief, issued an address to the Sardinian people, declaring that he made war upon a revolutionary party, and that if the Austrian Eagle was well received, peaceable citizens could reckon that peace, happiness, property would be held inviolable. At the same time he imposed upon the towns in his hands heavy de- mands for provisions and forage. On the 2d May General Gyulai had his headquarters at Lomello. It was observed that the Austrians seemed to be weakest on their right towards the Lago Maggiore, and that the bulk of their troops were between Mortara and the Po. On the

3d May the rain fell in torrents and must have greatly increased the difficulties of moving through the heavy low grounds. The Austrians,

however, had pressed on as far as Cambio and Vercelli ; and began to throw bridges across the Po below the confluence of the Bormida; and on the 3d they crossed the Po and moved towards Sala. They also opened a cannonade opposite Valenza, tried to pass the Po near Fraseinet- to, and moved up the Turin road towards Trine. But in the evening the force at Sala recrossed the Po.