The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-11-12
SEIZURE OF TR|POL|
AROUSES THE SWISS
Hardy Mountaineers Fear
Aggression on the Part of
Their Neighbor.
AUSTRIA ALSO AWAKE
Fortitications Along the Italian
Frontier Being Rushed
to Completion.
AUSTRIA ALSO AWAKE
b. Associated Press.

BERLIN. Nov. 11-"Atter Tripoli,
what neN,?' is the question which. ac-
cordng TO dispatches from Swiss CORE
spondents Of the German papers. is agi-
talIng the Swiss press and public.
Italy's seizure Of Tripoli, combined
with the wcll-known aspirations Of the
Italian Nationalists to unite the Italian
speaking portions OF Switzerland with
the Roman Kingdom, is causing. say
these dispatches. much discussion of
the possibility that" the little mountain
republic may be future object OF the
aggression OF It's southern nsighbor
Since the outbreak Of the Tripoltan
war various Swiss papers have pointed
out tn" significance for Switzerland OF
this unexpected launching OF hostaill-
ties and the Seizure OF q coveted prov
Ince and have concluded from sc the
necessity OF ncGlncting no steps 10 main
tain at the highest possible efficiency
the defcnses and fighting power OF the
country.
The part OF Switzerland on which
IL Is feared that ItalY's eve may be
turned is the canton of Ticno. on the
Italian sid" Of the Alps, known to thou
sands of tourists who have Travelled
over the 81. Gothard railroad or visited
the Italian lakes. It's area Is 1855
square miles and its population nearly
100000, practically all OF them Italian
speaking. Like the southern part OF
the canton of Eaiais and the Enga-
dine region OF eastern Switzerland, IL
is marked upon the maps and colored
post cards Of the Italian Jrredentists
tagitators for a united Italian cmpire)
aa one OF the regions ultimately 10 be
Joined to Italy, but what has focused
attention particularly or the Ticino Is
the veSa,ion manifested IN certain
Italian quarters at the strong Swiss
fortiiications OF The st. Gothard pass,
which dominates the canton.
a series Of articles on the importance
OF these fcrtincntions by an italian gem
eIal have recently appeared IN the Cor
rather increased than diminished the
zeal with which the tortiilcatious arc be-
Ing pressed
In a recent article. Or. j. SthoIlen-
berger, professor Of political science at
the University OF Zurich. maintains
that Switzerland can expect little sup.
of the neutrality and integrity OF Swiss
territory. \ possible comb alton In
the minds OF the Swiss pessinists is
an Italian occupation OF the Ticino for
by the grant OF Geneva, town thor
oughly French IN language and sNmpa"
tlicS.
Not only Switzerland. but also Austuo-
Hungary. 1talys ally Is thinking Of the
possibilities OF Italian aggression
Since General Conrad has been at the
head OF the Austrian general staff the
fertilization CT the mountain valleys Of
the Tyrol along the Italian frontier has
been carried on with unccasinE energy.
until now every connecting pass and
valley between the two countries is
closed by powerful fortincations.
Now attention has been turned 20 the
Stilfser Joch, well known Alpine
pass. situated at the junction OF the
frontiers Of Austria. italy and SwitZer-
land over this a fine carriage road
leads from Italy into Austria. The
pass has hitherto been considered amply
defended by the fact that the route
passes for distance OF about eight
miles across a narrow point of neutral
Swiss territory, but since the construc
ton by italy OF fortified camp at the
foot OF Monte UmbraIl and OF a fort
upon Monte Opa. both near the italian
end OF the pass. and the extension OF
tho italian railroad TO Bormio. n strong
agitation has started for defensive meas
ures on the Austrian side.
Iialy's activity on this corner of her
frontier Is shown by the fact that noun
tain climbers are no longer allowed to
ascend Monte OF Piz Umbrail one OF the
we'll known alpine aScents,