The New Zealand Tablet THURSDAY, MAY 27, 1915. THE NEW BELLIGERENT

New Zealand Tablet, 27 May 1915, Page 33

The New Zealand Tablet THURSDAY, MAY 27, 1915. THE NEW BELLIGERENT

HE long-expected has come at last, and Italy »r UK** has made the final and fateful decision to The decision must have been a matter of ■£v j **?£s» anxious thought to those in whose hands the destiny of the nation has been placed at this \ rfffipT eventful moment of her history. It is no w - small matter for a country deliberately to take its place in the welter of blood with which eastern and western Europe is being drenched; and her statesmen may well be forgiven for standing out until the last possible moment. The hour had come, however, when a choice must be made and taking all the circumstances into consideration it is difficult to see how the Government could have taken any other path than that on which they have entered. Both moral and material considerations pointed to the inevitableness of Italy's stand being taken against her late partners in the Triple Alliance. As regards the former, the violation and devastation of Belgium, and ..Germany's general method of conducting the war, inspired not terror but horror in the Italian mind. 'The shelling of Reims Cathedral,' wrote a representative Italian more than six months ago, 'and details transmitted by Italian correspondents of the inhuman nature of the German terror in Belgium have so revolted the national conscience • that, for the time being, resentment against Germany has overshadowed even the traditional aversion for Austria, and Republican leaders such as Signor

. ~— r - .-- _ -■, -, ~,'..■..-■ .:.,.. -■■ , ..■■■ ■-.--.. ■ . ■ .-.-- .... —:- ■;. •, Barzilai have vigorously protested i" against the - shame ■ of remaining indifferent in the face of a X colossal conflict where the liberties and the civilisationI of Europe are at stake.' v '; - As regards the material con- ; . siderations, they have 7 been fully discussed for months '-■ past; in the daily - press, and every schoolboy is now : -familiar with the facts. Everyone knows that there are parts of Austria,-' for example, Trieste and Trentino, that are regarded as the ' unredeemed ' . parts of : Italy—- ; that is to say, as parts of the territory of Italy that • are ; , still in the grip of foreigners,-—and the Italian people have never given up the hope of. adding these % 'districts to the existing Kingdom of Italy. Moreover, Italy desires and needs a commanding, position in the Adriatic and the , victory of Austria would mean a death-blow to these very natural and reasonable aspirations. . " . ■",, ' -"" : r - : : •'■"■- „ * ~ The terms of the Triple Alliance have never been published, but it is generally known that the agreement only bound Italy to come to the assistance of her partners in the event of an aggressive war being waged ;. against them. Italy's during all these months is clear proof that that Power, at least, regarded Austria and Germany, and not Britain, as the aggressor in the war; and it happens that Austria and Germany have themselves justified Italy's attitude in that respect. It is true that a report was current at Rome, shortly after the outbreak of the war, that the Kaiser had despatched a telegram to the King of Italy couched in the following terms: Victor or vanquished, t will never forget thy perfidy.' But in an inspired article in the official Fremdenblatt of August 27, Austria asserted that 'if the Italian Government, after carefully weighing the reasons for and against, has arrived at the conclusion that it would be more opportune for her to remain neutral, such decision by no means implies the end of the Triplice, whatever may have been whispered in Italy and elsewhere. The bond between the three Powers exists, and will continue to exist even after the war, since it corresponds to .their interests, and an Austro-German defeat—if indeed, anyone is credulous enough to believe in that possibilitywould be a national disaster for Italy, whereas a victory would mean the victory of an orderly and modern element of culture in Europe, and would be therefore to Italy's interest.' A similar attitude was taken by the Austrian JieicJtspost, and also by the Kiilnische Zeitvntj and other officially inspired German papers. In the face of such utterances, implying that the two Powers regarded the Alliance as intact, notwithstanding Italy's refusal to come to their aid, it is difficult to see how Germany and Austria can still attempt, with the -slightest pretence at consistency, to ask the world to believe that they are engaged in a defensive war, which has been 'forced' upon them. For Italy, the significant and momentous aspect of her present decision is the fact that the Triple Alliance is now gone, forever. It was always heartily detested by the Italian people; and the enthusiasm and tumultuous demonstrations in favor of the war are the measure of the popular rejoicing at its final collapse. * As to the probable military consequences of the entrance of this new belligerent into the arena, it would be futile to attempt to prophesy; all that can be said is that it remains to be seen how Italy will comport herself. Her men are fresh, brave, and determined; and the nation is now reasonably well prepared for the struggle. Her intervention will at least cause a diversion of Austrian and German troops from the eastern and western fronts, and must necessarily make the task of : the Allies appreciably easier. There are good grounds "for believing that the entrance of -Italy into the contest > will be followed at no distant date by the appearance -of Roumanians a belligerent— on the side of the Allies. That country has an army six hundred thou- ; sand -strong absolutely intact,, and, like -Italy, has been : making large military preparations. If Russia, Roumania, and Serbia joined hands, a, half circle would be 1 formed round Hungary. •' The strain on . the latter

country would be enormous, ; and the -results would pro-• bably be seen very soon. ■ It is not to be expected that Italy can take her place in this titanic struggle without suffering, perhaps iseverely; and as Catholics our satis--faction at the appearance of a new ally is tempered by regret that the calamity of warfare should have ? overtaken the land which cradled the infancy of our holy Faith, and >in Which dwells the earthly Vicar of our Lord - But because her : action iis ; calculated: to shorten hostilities, and therefore materially to lessen -the- sum total of, bloodshed, her intervention cannot be other than welcomed-by those who desire to see the hateful and hellish struggle brought to a close. - -