ITALY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 296, 24 May 1915, Page 5

ITALY

A STATE OF WAR. MADE IN CERTAIN PROVINCES. «■ SEMI-OFFICIAL REPORT. Receivwl May 24, 12.15 a.m. Rome, Slay 2:!. It is semi-officiaiiy announced that a state of war exists at Lombardy, Venetia, in the Adriatic, and in several other provinces. Received May 23, 11 p.m. New York, May 23. A Renter London-Stefani despatch from Rome says the Minister of War and the Minister cf Marine have declared a state of war in the provinces on the Austrian frontier, and on the Island of Communes, on the Adriatic coast.

THREE MILLION ITALIANS. A SURPRISE FOR THE ENEMY. A MILLION ON THE FRONTIER. FEELING IX GERMANY. NEUTRAL SUPPLIES CUT OFF. Times and Sydney Sim Services. Received May 21,.ti. 35 j)m. London, May 21. A neutral correspondent says:—During the last week of liiv stay in Germany, when the Italian question was acute, there was no Herman IVeiing of apprehension of military power, but chiefly economic and industrial isolation. Oflieers of high rank assured me that the military contingencies had long been foreseen. Business men were scared because through Italy Germany had access to supplies from neutrals, especially America. With the intervention of. Italy Germans felt that practically the last door would be closed.

The press was kept well in hand lest, their language should imperil the diplomatic situation. Some journals were confronted for writing strongly against Italy. In private conversation wrath was ex-pressed in the most violent terms, and the hard words used against England were nothing comparable to those used about Italy. .Numbers of Italians filled a train, hurrying homewards, and met trainloads of Germans coming to Italy. On the southern frontier the guards not only made a strict examination of passports and luggage, but were almost brutal to Italians, who were more strictly examined, and were exposed to continual invective. Au Italian business man in London writes:—l have been called to the army, and also my clerk. We have three millions ready and a million already oil the Austrian frontiers, and this will be a nice shock to German and Austrian enthusiasm. The army has never 'before been seen. I hope "with our help the war will sooner end in the complete defeat of the linns.

GERMANS BOUND FOR ITALY. TROOPS AND GUNS SENT SOUTH. STATE OF SIEGE IN AUSTRIA. ITALIAN AMBASSADOR INSULTED. Received May: 23, 2 p.m. London, May 22. lh» Daily Chronicle's Geneva correspondent say s that Germany is sending large numbers of troops and heavy guns to the Italian frontier via Munich and Innsbruck. A state of siege has been declared at Trieste, Finnic, and l'ola. All shipping in the Adriatic has been suspended. 'Amsterdam, May 22. A crowd rushed the Italian Ambassador's car in Berlin on Thursday and knocked oil' bis bat. An ollicial German statement denies that the Ambassador was struck, and adds that the offender was arrested. Herr von Beth-mami-llolhveg lias apologised.

AUSTRIA ANNOYED. ' WILL NOT PART WITH ITALY, A YEAR'S NOTICE WANTED. .Received ay 2-i, 1*2.1."3 -a.m. Amsterdam, May 23. Baron Jiurian (Austrian nister), in a Note to the Italian Ambassador, declined to take cognisance of the denunciation ox the alliance, and insisted that twelve months' notice was required before the expiration of the alliance in J920. lit; cited Austria's offers of territory as proof of a desire to strengthen t'H: relation-j Uetwtvn the two countries.

ENTHUSIASM IN ITALY. WAR iIAJOJUTV IN THE CHAMBER. AUSTRIANS DESTROY COMMUNICATIONS. KIXG AX)) AIiMV CUEEIIED. Deceived .May 23, 2.UJ p.m. Home, -May 22. Die Senate, iiy 202 votes to 2, adopted Signer Salandra's liiil. Tiiere was intense enthusiasm, Senators fieijuent'y rising en masse and cheering the Kin;* and tlie army. It was pointed out that the 20tli was the anniversary of Italy'.-? cuti-Kiics : ino the Triple Alliance. The Austrian authorities sci.t back the Italian mniis from Udine, and have torn up the railways and stopped all communication with Italy.

HOLDING IMPORTANT HOSTAGES. AMBASSADORS to leave. Tillies am! Sydney Smi Services. London, .Mav il. Italian university students an;'enlisting en masse. Remembering the ill-treatment of the. ereiiiii and Rmsm;iu Ainlnssadors. Italy has decided that Prince von Rujow and Baron Macvhio will not he permitted to cross the frontier uiiiil the kalian Ambassadors in Berlin and Vienna iiave returned safely. Diplomatic circles predict that..- Ronmania, Ci'cece and lUilg;;iiia will follow the Italian lead. I!i nio. Mav 21. A Royal decree is diplomatic immunity fey the Austrian and Herman Ainlnssadors to the Vatican, who leave to-morrow.

AUSTRIAN PREPARED. ITALIAN WORKS DESTROYED. Received May 22, 1.30 p.m. Rome, May 21. Hie lope personally subscribed I Oil,ooo francs (£-11)00) to the Kalian war fund, and allocated a million franco ( .€40,1.100) to Italian victims of the war. Messages from Verona state that Austrian troops 011 several frontier posts in the Tyrol have been withdrawn within the fortified zone destroying- telcran'as telephones and electric ivorks. ° ' DEPARTURE OF AMBASSADORS. Received May 22, 4.3'0 p.m. Rome, May 21. It is understood the Italian Ambassadors at Berlin and Vienna leave 011 .Saturday, when Prince von Billow goes to Berlin. \ "

KNKMY STEAMERS AT 'GKXOA. Received May 23, 3.."50 p.m. Rome, Mav 2*2. A dozen Austrian and Herman steamera have bt'cn interned at fienoa since August, and some have since arrived. GENERAL MOBILISATION* ORDERED. •Received May 23, 11.50 p.m. Xew York, Mav 22. I "A Haras despatch from Rome states that Emmanuel lias declared! a mobilisation on land and isea. I DILATORY TACTiCS. switzerlaxd mow 1.1 six:. 1 Rome, May 21. Prince von Bulow and liaron Macchio are adopting a dilatory attitude in order to enable Germany and Austria to complete military 'preparations. Italy, however, lias decided not to temporise. It is anticipated that after to-day's meeting of the Senate ratifying the Chamber's vote such measures will be adopted tliat (iernuiny and Austria will be forced to ask for explanations.

Prior to the vole in the Chamber the Socialist leaders declared that they were not opposed to the Government, because Italy was facing a defensive war. There is tumultuous enthusiasm throughout Italy. There has been a new levy at Trieste between the ages of seventeen and sixty, on tlie pretext of removing everything likely to assist the Italians. Fifty thousand in the vicinity of Pola were forced to leave their homes and were sent to concentration camps in Carniola And Croatia.

Laborers are working day and night on the fortifications at Trentino. and large reinforcements are constantly arriving and going towards the frontier. The Message™ states that Switzerland is mobilising four hundred thousand men to safeguard her neutrality. An Austrian sailor was sentenced to death for firing at Admiral Hans and inciting his comrades to join the Italians. GREEK CARGO SEIZED. Rome, May 21. A Greek cargo of two thousand tons of rice, destined for Germany, was seized at Xaples. MR. FISITER EXPLATXS. Melbourne, May 22. Mr. Fisher stated that last night the Government received oflieial intimation of a rupture between Italy and her erstwhile allies. The earlier announcement referred to the decision to intervene.

INDIGNATION AT BERLIN. Rerlin, May 21. Public indignation is increasing. The new motto in the newspapers is, "God punish It'.ilv" It is announced that the Kaiser will return to flerlin. He is expected to appeal to tin; nation, denouncing Italy's alleged treachery. AUSTRIAN' PRESS HOPEFUL. Vienna, May 21. The Press is moderate jn its statements, clinging to the hope that war may yet he averted. ABOUT 'ITATA 7 . Italia Irredenta (or ''Unredeemed Italy '') consists of the Italiun-speaking districts of Austria-Hungary. They are (1) the. Trenlino or southern portion of the Austrian Tyrol; (2) Trieste and Tstria, and (!!) to a slight extent l)almatia. The Italian population of these regions amounts altogether to ahout a million. In the Trentino and Trieste it constitutes the majority. Following are details of the Italian and Austrian Italy Austria. Dreadnoughts. Dante Alighicri Virilms Unitis Leonardo da Vinca I'rinz Engen Guilio Cesare TegetthofT Conic di favour Szent Istvan Duilio Doria

Xeu' ship Pre-Drcadnnue'liis s 0 Lariro cruisers. . 0 cruisers . 1 Li.uht cruisers.. 11 I.iirlit cruisers . !) I)e-1 niyei's .... : !ll Pestrnvers ... 10 r l orpedndioats •. 7."f Turpedn-boats . SO Submarines 20 Submarines 14 In Itiese lists ure included nil Hie s-lii s is and vessels known fo lie completed or on tile point of eoinpVi ion. whieh posset iuir value. The Millions have another 11 i*i ■: i • (nought ivcl] :idvani-ed, ulidr t lie An-dro-l additional sliijx are merely projects. Tin' Italian* are also adding Aery rapidly io their/flotillas, ami the Sjiozia "Doekyard and '.nid An*ahh> and <Mer<» Klonoa) have for s*imo time past been omipied with the work.

Til (lie matter of aircraft. Hie Italians have about a airships lo ! hree or four po«c==od by Austria, and nrn reporti'il In have ."-bled vrrv to their f!c"t, n! ni-rm • i--"i; rablecrams from Kon>» si a fed f:. a r, |V Italian Xavv has in fhp !,•.< six months been strengthened liy i'.ie addition of

twenty submarim s. In the last few weeks -20 aviators have received their pilot's ccrtilieatcs, am! tin; Italian Army now lias at its disposal JJOO aeronlanes and 'ill dirigibles. As lar as the Jlaiian Army is concerned, exact figures cannot be. given. Tile normal strength of Hie field army [ is 400.000, but tliis has certainly been very greatly exceeded, and a most reasonable est;mail' places the strength of the organised forces at a million. A few days ago il; was reported to be as high as a millon ami three-quarters. Italy has suiiicieni popidiiiiou to place about three million troops under- arms if necessary in an ultimate trial of strength. The Austrian army's strength is an unknown quantity, hut it has been estimated by competent critics at an ultimate tote.) strength of about five millions and a half. r>f course, a great part, ol the Austrian army cannot bo used against Italy.