Page:Poet Lore, volume 27, 1916.djvu/382

 on June 15, Prussia declared war against Hanover, Saxony, Bavaria, and Austria. On June 27 the Prussians defeated the Hanoverians. On June 24 Austria dealt a severe defeat to the Italians at Custozza. This play however concerns itself with the main events of this war which took place in Bohemia. The Austrian army was commanded by Gen. Ludwig von Benedek and at the outbreak of the war he was stationed in Moravia at Olmütz. The Austrians numbered 240,000 men. The invading Prussian army of 310,000 was commanded by its chief of staff, Gen. von Moltke, but the Crown Prince, and King William himself led the troops. It consisted of three army corps; the first marched into Moravia, the second into the westerly part of Bohemia, and the third corps into Bohemia by way of Trautenau and Nachod. Benedek spread his army to meet the invaders.

At this point it is pertinent to note the position of the Czechs. They had just formed the society of the Sokols (falcon) the national guard of Bohemia and they were rejoicing at their Renaissance. Mindful of the great victories of their forbears, the Hussites over the Germans, the Sokols were anxious to help in the repulse of their ancient enemies the Prussians. They sent a petition to Vienna for permission to fortify the narrow mountain passes. The gentlemen of the Ballplatz at Vienna (as the foreign office was then called) scorned this offer. The Prime Minister told the Bohemian delegates that the conflict was a war of Germans against Germans. University students were told that they had better join the regular army as volunteers. Prince Metternich wrote that the Prussian would be driven out of Austria, “mit einem nassen Fetzen” (with a wet rag). He informed the Embassy in Paris that he was very much occupied in composing a triumphal march for the entry of the Austrian troops into Berlin.

The action in this play relates to the Austrian army sent to oppose the Prussians around Trautenau. While Benedek had not met the main army of the Prussians as yet, his losses in trying to check the advance of the three corps were so heavy that he telegraphed to Vienna to the Emperor advising peace at any price. The official communications are as follows:

Benedek to the Emperor: “I earnestly entreat Your Majesty to conclude peace at any price. A catastrophe to the army is inevitable. Major General Beck is returned immediately.”

Answered by official telegram No 3022, June 30, at 2:10 p. m.