The Daily News. THURSDAY, MAY 13, 1915. ITALY'S ATTITUDE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 287, 13 May 1915, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, MAY 13, 1915. ITALY'S ATTITUDE.

In considering the attitude of Italy in > connection with the war, there are many matters that have to be taken into account. In tlie lirst place, Italy was a partner in the Triple Alliance rip to the outbreak of hostilities, when she ' backed down for obvious reasons, the chief of which was that there was a likely chance of regaining her lost Adriatic provinces. At the same lime Italy had much to lose if she joined the Allies and the war went against them, so with a 'prudence that must be regarded as , justifiable under the circumstances she has patiently awaited the; trend of events. .Meanwhile, negotiations with Austria have been going on, and Herman inlluence has been brought to bear on Italy, but so far no agreement has been arrived at, nor does there seem a possibility of Italy obtaining what she desires by any other means than resort to arms.' Italy has had ample time since tin- war began to concentrate and equip her troops, so that presumably she is in a position to take the held should it be advisable to do so. The sticking point in the negotiations with Austria was the giving up of the Trentino and Trieste, and it may fairly be assumed that the lirst object of the Italians, if they declare war, will be to occupy Trentino and Trieste, thus seizing the ••unredeemed" provinces whose restitution they have so long desired. Trentino, with its compact mass of four hundred thousand Italians, might have been gained by simply sitting still, and a portion of the South >\'\ rol would also have been granted as part payment of the price of neutrality. ]:„t Trieste is a totally dillVrent matter. Tile long Dalmatian coastline, with its splendid harbors, would never be surrendered by Austria, because she would be shut out from the Adriatic, and the; Adriatic is all-important to her. The long delay of Italy may be attributed in a great measure to this question of the Donation coast. l|, Wlls c-ij.1,,,,.,1 ~|S () , Soma, who looked for a seaboard on the Adriatic; but a Kcrho-lfalian under- ' landing has ]„,.„ nr rived tli> llni , t ,, m , "''"'"■•'""("'"•'•'•llM'tweenthetwoeoun. ' tries when the redistribution 0 f ]).,]. : miitian territory takes place. As to the 'fleet of Italy joining the Allies (he ad- < "'l'tion of a million well-trained troops ( to the Allied forces should make a very I ' material a-toacc to tl:e F4 , oCCts of <

the summer campaign. It lias, lnwa stated' that Austro-Genuan troops arc. being concentrated at Trieste; and that German troops are proceeding to-. Oalmati'a, but in view of developments in France and Poland it is not likely that Germany will waste many men through soiwitude for Austria. Present iudicatiens seen to ]>oint to Italian intervention at no distant date provided all goes well with the. Allies. That intervention is not absolutely assured, but it appears to be within the area of practical politics.