The Washington herald., 1906-11-04

far as Italy is~eoncsrned. ard that Aus
tTia. in the event Of European war
would find. not an ally, not even a friend
ly neutral. but 3 pronouaeed foe. threat
ening her southern defenses. rims ina
semi-ohieial PCpClo Romano. tie ,rost
important organ Of the Italian press d.
eiares that the most vital question oo-,-
fronting the nation is the placing Of tfs
Italian frontier toward Austria IN q prop
ct state OF defense adding that tho
question is one Of absolute necessity. and
which does not admit Of any delay. On
the other hand. the Italian government
has asked from Austria an explanation OF
the extraordinary activity manifested a.
late In the construction Of new defszses
along the Italian frontier lire, and ths
strengthening Of The existing fortresssJ
and ornaments in that region. The great
annual Austrian maneuveTs recently car
red out ua6er the personal direction cg
the heiT-apParent, ArchduiIc Francis Fe--
dina1ds were devised on the theory Of an
invasion Of the dual empire by Italy a.
lied with Montenegro and Serva, and
perhaps owing TO the realism with which
these military operations were put into
execution, the Slav population Of the re-
gion relt encouraged TO perpetrate af
sorts Of disgrsceful outrages upon ths
numerous Italian Inhabitants Of the dis
,rsct, and upon their property, which o-
course, aroused q perfect storm Of lndIr-
nation throughout the length and breadti.
OF the dominions Of King Victor Enr1ah-
uel. Then, 20 make matters worse. Aus
trian torpedo boats and destroyers have
been discovered taking souu6ings at nigh.
All along the Italian coast OF tie .adrlati..
while an Austrian force OF cruisers. in the
course OF its maneuvers, actually sinu-
lated an attack or the Italian trunk rail-
road line from Bologna, which runs aionE
the shore from Bologna 10 Ancona. ali
the windows Of the coast town Of Fano
and Of the adjoining villages being shat
tered by the conclusion OF the Austrian
gunfre.
On the other side We md popular ant
Austrian demonstrations in the various
leading cities Of Italy, manifestations
which take the form OF public gathering
in front Of the various Austrian consul
ates and embassies, with cries Of Dow
with the Emperor" Death to austria
''Evviva Oberdank-' "a man hanged for
attempting to assassinate Francis JOSEPH
In ISszl, while in many places austrian
flags have been dragged in the mud and
solemnly burnt 70 cries Of Viva Italia
ITredenta." Italian cabinet ministers
have not only taken part IN ceremonies
commemorating the execution by the Aus.
trians half a century ago Of italian cor
spirators against Emperor Francis Jo-
seph's rule in Northern Italy, but .lso Izid
wreaths on the tombs OF the patriots. &fu
the name OF TIE King and " tia. govern
ment, while not long ago, when q deputy
in the national legislature, In discussing
the naval estimates, referred TO the ig-
nomini0us defeat cf the Italian feet b.
Austria at the battle Of LISA. in 1866, the
minister Of marine replied textuaIly. thai
for thirty-eight years the Italian gov
ernment had been preparing 20 wipe out
that disgrace, and is now ready for tho
test"
Il is hardly necessary 10 recall here
that the most powerful political orgauIza-
ton OF King Victor Emmanuel s dJ1nir-
ions IS the so-oailed Italia Irre5enta. L.
which every Italian With pre- -ensIons II
patriotism belongs. more OF less o2enlv.
and which includes among its rnsmbsrs
all the leading statesmen, ministers, and
dignitaries OF the government As indi-
caled by its name. its avowed object is
to wrest from Austria and TO annex 10
Z
ing provinces OF Francis JOSeph's empire
Still another apple Of discord between
Austria and Italy is Albania, which Aus
tria has always regarded as her own par
tcular sphere and preserve, but where g
very active Italian propaganda is now IN
progress, . sister organization o. the
Italia Irredenta having been formed il
Italy for the promotion Of Italian inter
ests and Italian domination In Albania.
Italy, OF rather Venice. once held every
valuable port on the Albania coast. and q
line OF Italian princes formerly ruled over
Albania Il IS this rule that Italy is de-
termired 70 restore. in spite Of the an
noUncement by the Austrian government
that any attempt by Italy to disurb the
statu quo in that portion OF Europe VII
be resisted by her with armed force.
On both sides Of the Austro-Italian from
tier. the conviction IS entertained that war
is not only certain, but imminent between
the two nations IN fact, th- London
Times published an article the other day-
which has attracted widespread attention.
owing TO the grave warning which Il con-
taiIed to the Powers that the only com
ment in official circles at Vienna and
Rome just at present was that war BE-
tween Austria and Italy had not yet been
declared. Under the circumsta nces. tho
alliance between Austria and Italy NAV
be considered as even stiH more defunct
than the extinct union between Russia
and France, and in the new grouping OF
powers. which Is now taking place, Rus
sia will be found hand in glove with Ger
many and Austria, while Italy will throvy
n her fortunes with that other sroup
composed OF France and Great Britain.
and in which the United States is gener-
ally understood TO be comprised.
EX-ATTACHE.
. AGENTS UNDER COERCION.