PAGE

28.

29.

30.

31.

32.

14

10.

II.D

12.

13.

15

V  (pp.  28-33)

.  Wnen  the  coronation  of  King  William  and  Queen  Augusta

tock  place  at  Königsberg  their  son  Frederick  was  thirty
Fears  old  to  a  day.

King  William  was  determined  to  procure  for  Prussia  that
place  among  German  states  which  was  its  due.

Though  the  king  and  his  minister  for  war  had  worked  out

D  scheme  of  army-reform,  Parliament  relused  to  grant
the  necessary  money.
There  could  be  no  doubt  that  Bismarck  had  insight  and  an
iron  determination.

Prussia  not  Austria  was  destined  to  lead  Germany.
Bismarck,  who  soon  became  president  of  the  ministry,

Proposed  that  Prussia  and  Austria  conjointly  should
drive  the  Danes  out  of  Schleswig-Holstein.

Bismarck's  proposal  was  accepted  and  the  Danish  War  of
1864  broke  out.

.  On  April  18,  1864  the  United  Prussian  and  Austrian.

troops  tock  the  redoubts  of  Düppel  Uy  storm,  and  thereby
the  defeat  of  the  Danes  was  complete.

The  joint  pPossession  of  the  conquered  provinces  soon  led

to  differences  between  Austria  and  Prussia.

Since  Austria  would  on  no  account  agree  to  the  territorial
aggrandisement  which  Prussia  demanded,  she  began  to
prepare  for  war.

Prussia,  under  the  leadership  of  King  William  and  his
Prime-minister  Bismarck,  was  not  inclined  to  cry  small
again  as  she  had  done  at  Olmütz.

„Bismarck's  endeavours  to  induce  the  neighbouring  States
Hanover,  Saxony  and  Kurhessen  to  remain  neutral
failed.

Moltke  had  worked  out  the  plan  of  campaign,  and  in  a  few
days  the  whole  Prussian  force  marched  in  three  armies
against  Bohemia.

King  William  on  July  2  assumed  the  command-in-chief  at
Gitschin.

It  was  no  light  business  to  make  all  the  necessary  arrangements.