ITALY'S PREPARATIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 218, 22 February 1915, Page 3

ITALY'S PREPARATIONS.

WHAT APRIL MAY BRIXG. SYMPATHY WTTH BRITAIN.

.After spending several months in Italy. Captain F. Lnlirano. of Sydney, declares that the sentiments of the Italian people are wholly in favor of the allies, and especially of Great Britain. There were not 5 tier cent, of the Italians whose sympathies did not run that way. If Ttaiy participated in the great struggle that was going on there was no question whatever as to whose side she would join. There was only one course possible. While Germany had a few friends in Ttalv. Austria had none at all. The Austrian* were hated liy every Italian, and for good reasons, too,' as Italy had been very liadlv treated bv them. Tf war against Aus- i tria had been started whilh he was in j Italv, he would certainly have offered himself for service. Although the French were of the same race as tile Italians the feeling for France in ordinary times had not been quite so warm as for Britain. Britain had helped Italy to become united, and had assisted lier financially and in other ways, and her friendliness had been much appreciated. Englishmen had always 011 this account been treated with spec/a!

courtesy in Italy. "I cannot, say, because T do not know, whether Italy is coming into tlic war," continued Captain Ltibrmw. ''The general opinion in Ttaly is that the I country cannot remain neutral very much longer, and that April or Mny next will see the Italians taking an active part, and you can rest assured that they will be with the allies. Otherwise the' people would not fight. I am perfectly certain of that. 1 saw many evidences of military activity in Italv. Many th ousands of men have been cal- | ied to the colors who in ordinary times would not have been serving, and manoeuvres arc going on every day .Tust before T left Naples an order came from Home forbidding all men up to "S years of age who had received milifarv training, and who would have to serve in the first 'eategoria' in the event of war, from leaving Ttaly. No order was however, made with respect to those who would constitute the second 'categoria' or the third. The navy is very efficient, but the army needs a bit of brushing up, and is now getting it. "Kveryone in Ttaly is agreed that the war is going to be a long one. and the general feeling is that ;hcre can be onlv one result. AVe cannot see how flcrmany can possibly triumph. The revelations made recently by Siirnnr OioliUi the late Prime Minister, confirmed tlie

belief of most people that fJernnuiv's plans had been laid for a time and that the responsibility for tin war does not. as the Olennans have said resfc on flreafc Rntain, but on Oevmanv herself. Si"nor OioiiUi told how Austria ill RM3 v/ant'd to de-lave war or Pervia. mid consulted Ttalv. as on" o* the parties to the Alliance, but Ttak would not, nnprove. Tt is nwvnllv believed that it was Ttalv who '. r ave England the 'tip' about Ccrmanv's intentions at th,. end of .Tnh r , and enabled her to bottle up the German fleet.