Italy's Position

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 265, 19 April 1915, Page 5

Italy's Position

WILL ITALY FIGHT? A DECISION NEARLY DUE. SITUATION CRITICAL. London, April 10. A correspondent at Rome says the situation is undoubtedly critical. Now for the first timo there is reason to think that Italian intervention is imminent There is good/ cause to believe that Italy- Into "mailed tabled her demands for concessions from Austria-Hungary, which exceeded what could possibly be accepted. It is likely that the conversations will be continued a little, Austlia interpreting the communication as a basis of THE WIEGAND INTERVIEW. A FABRICATION, FOUNDED ON FACT Received April 18, 3.30 p.m. Rome, April 17. The Osservatore Romano semi-official-ly denies that the Pope formally interviewed or received Wiegand. He only said the Vatican would support America if she wore able to make a step towards peace.

, GREAT ACTIVITY IN ITALY. ■ SOLDIERS SWARMING ON THE FRONTIER. 1 AUSTRIANS~PREPARE FOR ' ■ INVASION. ■Received April 18, 3.30 p.in . London, April IT. The Daily Chronicle's Verona correspondent reports great military activity nn Italy's north-eastern frontier. The Italians are incessantly mounting guns, and there are cavalry and infantry throughout the Stenitia Mountains. The frontier is swarming with troops, and nothing is being neglected to lock tiie doors over the mountains, though snow renders military operations improbable. The principle activity is in the Udine district, where every branch of the army and units of all the most important regiments are represented. It is estimated that over four thousand deserters arrived at Verona from Austria during the war. Many were frozen to death as they crossed the mountains. It is reported that the Adigc Valley on the Austrian side has been devastated by the making of trenches. AN AUSTRIAN INDISCRETION. SOLDIERS CROSS INTO ITALY. ; SnOTS EXCHANGED WITH it OFFICIALS. I. Receircd April 18, 3.30 p.m. ,{ '~ Rome, April 17.

There is much smuggling on the AusItrian frontier. Five hundred fwcre recently arrested for attempting to cross the frontier near Cormons with quanti- \ ties of flour, for which the Austrian i| authorities pay handsomely.

THE FIRST SHOTS. 1 AUSTRIANS PENETRATE TH> FRONTIER, Received April 18, 5.5 p.m. Rome, April 17. Fifteen Austrian soldiers penetrated the Trentino through the pass at Loro. The Customs officials exchanged shots with thenl.