Chapter 268: "Patriot" Canned Beef and Potatoes
On September 2, Europe was abuzz with the news of Napoleon III's surrender. After the Battle of Sedan, the French army had suffered 17,000 casualties, with 21,000 taken as prisoners, while the Prussian forces reported 2,300 killed, 5,000 wounded, and 700 captured or missing.
Newspapers from various countries rushed to report this development, including Vienna, where people were more interested in the progress of their own army's operations in Italy. Grand Duke Albrecht I was leading the imperial army towards Venice, swiftly breaching Italy's second line of defense. This temporary defense was not as robust as the Isonzo River defense line due to the lower terrain on the Italian side. The Austro-Hungarian artillery found it easier to target, but the Italian commander had no choice but to order a retreat to Venice to make a stand.
...
Emmanuel II, the King of Italy, was furious upon learning that an Austro-Hungarian army had reached Rome. He chastised his subordinates, demanding to know how this army had gone unnoticed. The situation was dire. The coalition's attack on Rome had failed, and now, the Austro-Hungarian Expeditionary Force was moving to organize troops to march towards Florence. Simultaneously, the Papal State army, under the command of Lieutenant General Karl, was launching an attack on the Italian coastal defenses on the east coast, aided by over 30,000 Austro-Hungarian landing troops from Trieste.
Emmanuel II, in his frustration, asked, "Can we still recall some of the troops currently en route and redirect them to Florence? Can we mobilize troops from the French border in time?"
His advisors responded, "This is challenging! The main force is in Venice, and we cannot divert them. We could consider shifting troops from the French border, but we're uncertain if it would be in time."
Emmanuel II pondered the situation and finally made a decision, "Mobilize the border troops guarding against France and quickly gather at least 50,000 troops from Florence and its vicinity. We must keep the Austro-Hungarian army from Rome out of Florence until reinforcements arrive."
...
In Marseille, France, Count Medina delivered a speech expressing his patriotism and donated a batch of supplies to support the government despite France's recent setbacks. The crowd applauded his words, and a newspaper reporter discreetly captured the scene. The photo would appear across France, especially in the south.
Later, when Count Medina rested, officials from the city hall approached him, thanking him for his support but explaining the challenges of distributing supplies given the ongoing situation. Count Medina offered a solution, suggesting that the supplies be sent directly to the frontline soldiers in the name of Marseille's citizens rather than the government.
The Earl of Medina, known for his patriotic character, had earned the respect of the Marseille city government through his actions. The supplies he offered included "Patriot" canned beef and potatoes, products associated with his joint venture business.
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In the evening, Leopold, having completed his mission in Hechingen, reported to Ernst. The Hechingen Brigade had suffered over 700 casualties, with 132 fatalities in the two battles. Ernst decided to bring them back, as their purpose of training had been achieved, and he didn't want them to partake in a war of aggression. Moreover, Ernst wished to avoid any negative influence on their discipline.
The Hechingen Brigade had already made significant financial gains through war bonds, with the Hechingen Consortium securing a quarter of the London bond market at a low price before the war. Ernst also instructed the creation of an open space near Hohenzollern Castle to bury the fallen soldiers, as a gesture of respect for their sacrifice.
(End of this chapter)