WHEN THIEVES FELL OUT.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 211, 22 September 1916, Page 2 (Supplement)

WHEN THIEVES FELL OUT.

A Scotch proverb declares that he neds a long spoon who sups kail witi the Devil. That truth lies therein, nations that have had dealings wjth Prussia have cause to admit. But Austria seems incapable of learning from experience. Once before she was in partnership with Prussia, and the outcome was disastrous for the Dual Monarchy. Tins was in "the s ; xties," when the Schlrswig-Holstejn question engrossed so much of Europe's diplomatic attention. It was a most intricate matter, so much so that a leading statesman used to aver that only two people ever really understood it—himself and another. "And I," he added, "have forgotten t." But, briefly put, it resolve] :tself into this: Austria and Prussia united to spoil Denmark of the Duc 1 !- ies, and then fell out over the booty, of which, as always. Prussia demanded the lion's share. The result was the. Six "Weeks' War of 1866, a brief and successful campaign, in which Prussian militarism took its first marked step towards the domination of Europe. Austria, always unfortunate jn war, was out-gencralled and outfought; and on July 3, 1*66, the issue was decided by the Battle of Konniggratz, or Sadowa, fought between the Austrians, und?r Benedck, and the Prussians, commanded nominally by King William, but really directed by Moltke. 'flue consequent peace sealed the exclusion of Austria from the Germanic Confederaton. and gave the hegemony of North Germany to Prussia, which also annexed the States of Hanover, HesseOassel, and Nassau, and the free city of Frankfort. Austria then, perforce, turned her attention in the direction of the Balkans, where her policy has been ;t standing menace to European peace; and eventually veered round to friendship with her despoiler—a friendship likely to prove more fatal in its fruits than the former hostility. The first shot at Sadowa was fired about halfpast seven in the morning by the troops of the Army of Prince Frederick Charles of Prussia, whom the King accompanied; but the battle really commenced about ten o'clock, when the Prussian columns advanced, covered bv skirmishers, and reached the river bank without much loss, but from there they had to fight every inch of the way slowly : mproving the ; r position by dint of sheer persistence and courage. though at a fearful cost of human lifo. and in some places during this bloody encounter they almost paved their wbj with wounded men, writhing, shrieking, and swearing in their agony and dcspa : r. In the wood above Benetel , the 27th Prussian Reg'ment went in*9 action nearly 3,000 strong, exclusive of 90 officers; and when the corps emerged on the other side of the wood after its baptism of fire, only two ohiccrs and from 300 to 400 men were left, standing, the rest having fallen either dead or wounded. The result appearel to be uncertain, and the Austrians were pressing hard and successfully against their stalwart foes, when about half-past one. in the afternoon the nature of the engagement was entirety changed by tli£ arrival of the First .Army, under the Crown Prince of Prussia, who at once made an harassing attack on the Austrian right flank. Seven times was Chlum taken and lost by the Prussians; but when the village was captured for the eighth time by them ; the fate of the day was decided, and the retreat of the Austrians, at first orderly, became a hasty, disastrous fl : ght. About 400,000 men were engaged in this battle -one of the greatest of the nineteenth century—the Austrians losing in dead, wounded, and missing 1,147 officers and 30,224 men, besides 27,600 prisoners and i 74 guns: and while the loss of the Prussians were 359 officers and 8,794 men killed and wounded, and niissing.