Italy

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 26, 29 August 1916, Page 5

Italy

| THE DECLARATION OF WAR, POPULAR ENTHUSIASM. “GERMANY’S DEFEAT INEVITABLE.” Press Association—Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. Rome, August 28. There was immense enthusiasm on | the official announcement of the declaration of war against Germany, crowds applauding in the streets. Signor Giolitti, who has been several times Premier, in a remarkable speech, said Italy must avoid all differences of opinion. It was necessary to have absolute unity in the conduct of the war until Italy’s aims were completely fulfilled. Signor Giolitti’s repudiation of his former pro-German sympathies proves his conversion to the belief that Germany’s defeat is inevitable. The Foreign Minister, in transmitting the declaration of war, says that German acts of hostility against Italy succeeded each other with growing frequency. It was sufficient to mention the regular supply of military and naval arms and war equipment to Austria, and the uninterrupted participation by officers, soldiers and sailors in the different operations directed against Italy. It was only due to the lavish assistance afforded Austria that the latter was able to concentrate the most extensive efforts against Italy. The Royal Government could no longer tolerate such a state of affairs. He points out that the situation was aggravated by Italy and Germany belonging to the opposing groups of belligerents. Italy’s war expenditure for the year ended June was £312,000,000, whereof £216,000,000 was raised by means of internal loans and the balance by long maturity bonds and Treasury coupons. The revenue shows itself fully capable of sustaining the onus of existing debts.