ITALY’S INTENTIONS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 9, 11 May 1915, Page 4

ITALY’S INTENTIONS.

Discussing Italy’s intentions at this time, the comments of “The Times’ ” military correspondent arc (says the Auckland Star), particularly worthy of attention, and it will he observed that, as lie points out, Italy has had ample time since the war began to concentrate and equip her troops, and to prepare her frontier defences, lint apparently this distinguished authority considers it certain that Italy will not he content to defend her own frontier, hut will undertake aggressive operations against Austria. It is by no means clear how large bodies of troops could advance, through the Austrian Tyrol and the other mountainous districts to the north-east of Italy. Hut we may fairly assume that the first object of the Italians, if they declare war, will he to occupy the Treutino and Trieste, thus seizing the “unredeemed” provinces whose restitution they have so long; desired. It is quite conceivable that they will land troops in istria and Dalmatia, and attack the Austrian naval liases; and, if successful here, they may be able ultimately, as the “Times” corresnoudent suggests, to advance upon Vienna, and cooperate with the Russians in what may prove the decisive battle, of the war.

somewhere oh the Hungarian plains. All this forms a very interesting, and from the standpoint oi the Allies, an attractive programme; and the tact that it is now set forth in such detail suggests that Italy is appreciably nearer a decision in favour ot the Allies than she was a month ago. As to the effect of her intervention, the addition of a million well-trained troops to the Allied forces should make a very material difference to the

prospects of the summer campaign. Hut it is quite possible that the Hermans and Austrians, still lighting on “interior lines,” may be able to detach enough troops to prevent the Italians from doing much to assist the llussians or the French for some time to come. And if we look a little further ahead, it is to he feared that any attempt on Italy’s part to push her claims to the Dalmatian sea coast, in face of the strong Serb interests already centred there, and in defiance ot the great principle of nationalism, may ultimately lead to disastrous consequences, not only to the alliance of States now banded together against Germany, hut, in the last resort, to Italy herself.