D1.8.66: [Untitled]

D1.8.66: [Untitled]

Newspaper Clippings

Bleek reports that Austria evacuated Bohemia and surrendered her Italian Province after the Battle of Sadowa (or Königgrätz). Perplexed, he writes of Emperor Louis Napoleon (Napoleon III), a 'parvenu', receiving high public praise for Austria's ceding of Venentia to France in exchange for non-intervention and how the public previously ridiculed his incompetence. Prussia and Italy seek a joint peace agreement from Austria that satisfies both powers, and Napoleon III's armistice terms are accepted. After Italy re-engages the Quadrilateral, Cialdini's movements are summarised by Bleek after commencing his march left of the Po. Bavarian reinforcements are sent via Tyrol to assist Austria. Austria's declining control over Venetia amid a partial Italian occupation altered France's agreement with Austria. Prussia's battle success flows from intellectually capable mixed-class militias and patriotism among their troops and constituent polities. Austria's forces are primarily non-Germanic, obstinate Slavic polities mainly organised into peasant militias. Prussia's arms superiority and superior arms efficacy enables them to end the war decisively. Prussia must realise German unity and Austria's downfall is necessary for Germany's rise. A unified German parliament must convoke while tolerance for Bismarck's dictatorship wears thin.

Printed newsprint glued on paper

14 August 1866

One cut-out column of printed newsprint mounted on foolscap folio (warped).

Bismarck (German unity), German unity (Austria's weakening is the catalyst), arms superiority (Prussia is bolstered by homogeneity and patriotism)

Pressed clippings of Victorian current affairs opinion pieces by Wilhelm Bleek.

Van de Sandt de Villiers & Co.