European public opinion was especially lively on September 2, because Napoleon III of France had surrendered. News of Napoleon III's surrender sent shockwaves through all of Europe. After the Battle of Sedan ended, Napoleon III ordered the fighting to cease.
At the Battle of Sedan, the French army suffered 17,000 casualties, with 21,000 taken prisoner. The Prussian army reported 2,300 dead, 5,000 wounded, and 700 captured or missing.
Newspapers across the countries raced to report the news. A few hours later, Vienna's newspapers followed suit, splashing the results of the war across their pages. Yet compared with news of France's defeat, the Austro-Hungarian public was clearly more interested in the progress of their own army. Everyone waited anxiously for the outcome of the war with Italy.
Meanwhile, Archduke Albrecht commanded the Imperial Army as it trampled over the Italians' second line of defense and pressed toward Venice. Italy's second line was even less solid than the Isonzo River line. Although the Isonzo River line was not ideally positioned—the Italian side lay at lower elevation, conveniently giving the Austro-Hungarian artillery an advantage—it stood on the border between the two countries. After Italy annexed the Venice region, it had built the Isonzo River line. The second line, however, had been thrown together on a whim, with no cover of any kind to rely upon.
Facing the Austro-Hungarian Army's assault, the second line soon fell. In order to preserve their strength, the Italian commanders had no choice but to order their troops to retreat into Venice, joining the Kingdom of Italy's forces gathered there and using Venice's fortifications and buildings to resist the Austro-Hungarian Army.
"Tell me, why was there an Austro-Hungarian Army force in Rome? What exactly is your Intelligence Department for? More than ten thousand men right under your noses,