The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1914-08-20
The Triple Alliance
Germany, Austria and Italy Joined In
Strong Bond For Offensive
and Defensive War

France n not Russia. Yet under
the terms OF the alliance. Austria was
bound only I preserve a state Of
friendly neutrality should Germany be
attacked by France. To protect the
interests Of Germany Bismarck ar
ranged In 1887 a neutrality treaty with
Russia. which was Cancelled, however.
a few years later by his ~uccessor
CaprivI.
Italy Versus France.
Italy entered the triple alliance In
1882. soon after the French invasion
of Tunis had reused the Italian people
to a point Of wrath and bitterness
which for the momen quite extinguish.
ed all ancient grudges toward Austria
and even temporarily quieted the agi-
tation for the redemption" Of the
Trentino and Triesr
This Italian bitterness toward France
lasted until 1899. In its ~iercest mo-
ments It provoked a tariff war which
cost Italy many millions. The military
expenditures necessary to keep Italy
up TO her engagements with her allies
cost still more. AS for Tunis. ii re-
NAMED French, and In 1899 and 1902
France and Italy recognized France In
Tunis and Morocco as well. France
agreed TO an ultimate Italian protec-
t0rate In Tr1poh.
With these treaties the Italian enthu-
siasm for the Austro-German alliance
cooled visibly. The Italian desire TO
include In the kingdom the Italian
speaking territories Of Austria reassert
ed itself. Finally the Austrian annex.
alton OF Bosnia and Herzegovina
brought Italy face TO face with the
possibility Of a future Austrian expan-
sion along the Adriatic In Albania. and
the increasing strength Of the Austrian
feet raised questions concerning the
mastery OF the Adriatic which pro
foundly stirred the whole nation
itsIy's Army Divided.
With the Tripolitan expedition the
last sentimental connection with Ber-
lin and Vienna vanished. II any still
survived From Berlin came a denun-
citation Of Italian aggression which
fairly astounded the Italians. While
Paris journals viewed with calmness
and even with a certain measure Of
sympathy Italian expansion, which
French agreements had legalized. Ger.
man newspapers denounced Italy as a
worthless and perfidious ally and gave
ready currency to reports Of the brutal
ity OF Italian troopS
To all these sources Of Italian bit
terness there IL now added the serious
shange In conditions the Tripofitan an
nexation has brought Henceforth for
many years a large Italian army will
have TO be kept In Tripoi. But In the
event Of a war between the triple ALI
ance and the triple entente British and
French fleets would command the COM
munication with the Italian peninsula
while Egyptian and Algerian armies
would be able TO invade Tripoli itself.
BY her African expedition Italy has IN
q measure given hostages to the sea
powers.
Weakened % IN Ally.
Az for the German aspect OF the
case. the Italian course toward Tur'
key weakened italy manifestly ~ an
ally since Il diminished her European
army and increased her vulnefabihty
to Anglo French attack. Rut what
was wen more serious, II shattered
the bonds betyfesn Germany and
Turksy because, although Germany
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