Napoleon and Messina's War in the Alps

Napoleon had been counting on messina's army to help him beat mela. Yet he took the news with surprising calm and simply made some adjustments. He transferred more men to switzerland and sent word to messina that he must do whatever he could to hold out for at least eight weeks. By may 20, fourth, napoleon had brought his army safely into italy. But two weeks before he had hoped, messina had surrendered. Napoleon now had fewer men to work with,. Mela had won a strong base in genoa. Now, french divisions were coming in from all directions. The austrians, meanwhile, had let their ranks fall into disorder. And stunned to find