WAR NOTES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 219, 23 February 1915, Page 2

WAR NOTES.

AUSTRIA'S PRETEXT. "A statement of importance was recently made in the Italian Chamber by Signor Gioletti, the most influential and respected figure in Italian public lifo. Twelve months before the war, during his premiership in 1013, Signor Gioletti was made aware of the text of a note Virtually identical with the famous Austrian ultimatum to Servia. Signor Gioletti's revelation removes the last suspicion that may have been entertained of this being 'a preventive war,' on Germany's part. Austria's, amazing ultimatum to Servia, in short, was not prompted by the assassination of the Grand Duke Franz Ferdinand at Serajevo in June last; but was long premeditated. It was a long thought-out <md carefully prepared step, of which Germany must have been aware, and of which the awful consequences must have been foreseen. On August !). 11113," said Signor Gioletti, as quoted by the London Morning Post, "the Marquis di San Giuliano told him that Austria had comn.unicated to Italy and Germany her intension of attacking Servia, defining such action as defensive, anil invoking Italian aid under the Triple Alliance. Both "the Marquis di San Giuliano and I," said Signor Giolitti, "deemed such an attack to be a enusus foederis, and T told the Marquis di San Giuliano to tell Austria

so ill tliii moat formal manner, and to urge Germany to dissuade her from a 1 most dangerous adventure. This was • done, and our allies agreed with ns. This i* to prove our loyaltv before Europe. We are justified," lie added, "in our neutrality now, but as our existence is apt to b.' threatened our neutrality does not linjily inaction, hut complete freedom of action." The Mcssa«oro, commenting on the Xote. describes it as a solemn af- ' Urination of national union, and praises Signor Giolitti's action as showing that as earlv as 1013 Germany and Austria knew Italy's intentions, and that Italy hv her refusal prevented war th"ii. '•This proves." says the Messagem] "their complicity, and absolves Russia and Oront Britain, for Austria wanted war n. year earlier." The London Morning Post adds, "Our Bucharest correspondent reports that in April Austria was sounding Roumania as to her attitude in the event, of hostilities. And we believe that the British fi'overninent had testimony that as early as May last Germany meant war this year. Such intentions have a way of leaking out. For exnmnle, the German ste.amship Cap Trafalgar was hi id un in South America, ostensibly for repairs, earlv in .Tulv. She was, ill fact, wailing for her puns, which were sent out from Germany at that time."