ITALY'S DUTY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2452, 4 May 1915, Page 9

ITALY'S DUTY

9 "NEUTRALITY CANNOT BE THE END." The cabled report that negotiations between. Italy and' Germany have, collapsed, owing to Prince von Buelow declaring that Germany and Austria would never give up Trieste, lends .point to the following statement by the "Giornale d'ltalia, one of the most powerful newspapers in Rome, about the middle of February

"The most critical moment of the European conflagration ( is approaching. The future of Europe will be decided at the coming renewal of the conflict, and then will come the phase of arrangement —with new and bloody efforts by those who have been beaten.' But their fate will henceforth have been settled, and all will have to submit to it—the conquered as well as the neutrals. "Italians have' known for several months that the present neutrality cannot be the end. We consider it our duty to declare it. Italy cannot emerge from this terrible crisis just as she is now._ The Italian people must hold itself in readiness to give to the country its proper, place in Europe and the world. To allow the crisis to pass without improving _ Italy's frontiers, realising her aspirations, increasing her prestige. and making sure of her future, would be suicide. To prolong indefinitely her present neutrality would be equivalent to taking no interest in the future fate of the world, to proclaim the decadence of Italy in its status as a great Power, and to deliver herself tied hand and foot to the arbitrary will of the conquerors and to the hatred of the conquered. That Italy cannot do, and must not wish to do. Let there be a truce, therefore, to all disputes. Let, us leave to the Government the choice of method. What is necessary to-day is to let the Government understand that the Italian people is rallying round it. ready for all sacrifices, capable of all efforts, and animated by fervent patriotism.

"Our thorough military preparations, being concluded, we must now proceed to_ the preparation of 'the national spirit. Our countrymen must examine their consciences and rapidly take their places, for the country demands decision, firmness, and the spirit of sacrifice and moral preparation for any eventuality." • • • The soldiers of the second category, says a Home message to the "Petit Parisien" of recent date, were to have been sent honie on January 31, but they will stop with the colours until May 31. With the 1888 class, which will resume duty on March 15, the total Italian forces mobilised will exceed 1,000,000 men\ The two new Dreadnoughts, Conte Di Cavour and Carlo Duilio, being ready, the Minister for Marine has ordered the formation of a squadron of five Dreadnoughts, which will be placed under the command of the Duke of the Abruzzi.