French troops are starting to depart Paris for Italy to confront the Austrians

On April 26 the French minister to Austria told the Austrian foreign minister that France would consider an Austrian crossing of the Ticino River into Piedmont as an attack upon France. In fact, French units had already moved toward Piedmont and by April 26 substantial French forces were in Turin. Three days later, the Austrian Emperor Franz Josef published his declaration of war and his troops did begin crossing the Ticino. (By John Osborne)