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Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 262, 15 April 1915, Page 4

ITALIAN INTERVENTION.

Tt is fairly definite that Italy will shorts !y join the Allies and attack her old enemy, Austria. One. Italian paper say-. ' on present indications the chances are ninety-nine in a hundred that Italy will ' intervene. More than one significant ' action is reported. A report from Venice ' is to the effect that the authorities are | removing the art treasures to Florence ' as a precaution against an Austrian | bombardment, whilst the Prefect of Trieste has prepared a proclamation oxhorting inhabitants of the Julian Venetia district to remain mlm, as the enemy is on the point of occupying it and that | Austrian administration is to be abandoned. For some time past Italy has been bargaining with Austria, asking as the price of her continued neutrality that the Italian-speaking parts of Austria bordering the Adriatic be brought under the administration of Rome. But, though pressed by Germany, Austria has re.iolutely refused to placate her iieighWi". Austria's position is a most difficult one. If she capitulates to Italy, she will lose practically the whole of her seaboavd, which would result in an internal revolution and subsequent dismemberment of the Empire. If Austria maintains her present attitude, Italy is almost certain to attack and wrench from her the coveted provinces. Austria cannot successfully resist Italy, which has a large and well-trained and war-seasoned army, and at tho same time hold back the oncoming Russians and resist the /(■solute Servians and Montenegrins, with the possibility of having besides to face Roumania, Bulgaria, and Greece. It \vi!.'. be truly an appalling situation for Austria. Yet she has no one but JicrseVf to blame for her impending defeat and humiliation. She allowed herself to be made the eatspaw of her arrogant and unscrupulous neighbor and gleefully stint- I | ed the conflagration that is now sweep- | ing over Europe by pouncing upon little Servia. No nation deserved humbling more, except, perhaps, Germany, whose ' (urn is siively, if slowly, coming, and no sympathy will be extended to her if 1 Italy does wade in and recover her !o c t ( provinces and help in ridding Europe i> once and for all of the Germano-Austrian *'■ nightmare. (