ITALY. DEFEAT OF AN AUSTRIAN CORPS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 320, 23 August 1848, Page 3

ITALY. DEFEAT OF AN AUSTRIAN CORPS.

LOMBARD*. By the arrival of news from Turin of the 31st March, accounts liave been received of an encounter near Montechiro, on the Cliiesa, between a strong body of the Austrian army and the S-trdininn General Bes, who was at the head of four thousand regular troops, and seven thousand volunteers. The Sardinian General gained a brilliant victory, and took from the enemy an entire squadron of cavalry, three cannons, and .some baggage. This news was brought by a special courier, who started from Milan on the 30th. The forces at the disposal of Oharles Albert amount to 30,000 men. This npws appears in a postscript to the Risorgimento of the 31st. The same journal states that »he Austrian a,rmy, commanded by General Radetski, h ».d retired from its position, at Soucino and Orcinovi, towards Mantua, the road lying through Montechiaro, where there is a bridge over the Chiesa. Bergamo, Lodi, Cremona, Crema, and Brescia, had been' likewise evacuated by the Ausirians. The Rist.i gimento of Turin, of the 31st ultimo, contains a royal proclam ition, dated from Noyhere, 2£>th, in which Charles Albert, declaring it to be his duty to defend the cause of Italy with his troops, calls upon his subjects meanwhile to defend the frontiers and roasts of the kingdom. The Bishop of Tortona has issued a circular to his clertjy, direc- ' ting them to offer up prayers for the victory of the Italian cause. By a decree o( the 27th, the Provisional Government cf Milan has j opened a loan for twenty-four millions of livres ; another decree, of the same date, abolibhes the lottery : and' a third al ows the in- j troduciion of Ptedmontese wines at a mode- i rate duty. Decrees of the war department order all ofhceis upon leave of absence throughout Lombardy to return immediately to Milan, and direct the enrolments of cavalry.

PAPAL STATES. Letters fiom Rome, of March 28th, state that the most prefect tranquillity prevailed since the departure of the troops anil volunteers for the frontiers. The civic guards occupied all (he military posts. A subscription had been entered into foi the purpose of equipping the volunteers. The Pope had sabbmbed- -50,400 francs, and -the religious criers, the nobility, merchants, and cardinals, had also largely contributed. The poor vied iv generosity and patriotism with the rich.