The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1914-08-19
The Triple Alliance
Germany, Austria and Italy Joined In
Strong Bond For Offensive
and Defensive War

tOrate in IrfpOli.
With these treaties the Italian enthu-
siasm for the AustroGerman 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
fleet raised questions concerning the
mastery of the Adriatic which pro-
foundly stirred the whole nation.
ItaIy's Army Divided.
With the Tripolitan expedition the
last sentimental conn \ with Ber-
lin and Vienna vanis- any still
survived From Berlin : denun-
citation of Italian agrees. which
fairly astounded the Ltaliafh While
nSls u IN Guinness
and even with certain measure of
sympathy Italian expansion, which
French agreements had legaliZed, Ger
man newspapers denounced Italy as
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 Is now added the serious
change in conditions the Tripolitan an
neXation has brought. Henceforth for
many years a large Italian army will
have to be kept in Tripoli. But in the
event of war between the triple alli-
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
a measure given hostages to the sea
powers.
Weakened as an Ally.
AS for the German aspect of the
case, the Italian course toward Tur-
KEY weakened Italy manifestly as an
ally since 1t diminished her European
army and increased her vulnerabtlity
to Anglo French attack. But, what
was even more serious, it shattered
Inc DOiluS pelNttH 'Cl anu
turkey because, although Germany
had assumed the position of protec-
tor of Turkey and In return counted
upon the Turkish army as re-en-
forcement to the armies Of the triple
alliance, she was obliged to stand
aside and permit her ally to attack
frion6
AS for Austria, for nearly a dozen
years the statesmen of the dual mon
archy have perceived>ef1e change in
the direction~~or Italian ambition.
Triestas~rfe Trentino, the Bosnian an
4eXation. the future of Albania-al of
these are points where Italian and
Austrian designs conflicted, and for
several years Austria has been build
ing forts from the Tyrol to the gulf
of Cattaro and preparing for a con
f1ict with Italy.
Based on Three Treaties.
The original triple alliance of 1882
was concluded for term OF five years,
and when it expired in 1887 the lire
dentists and other radical factions In
Italy strongly opposed the renewal OF
the agreement. 1t required all the In
fuence and political persuasion OF
Premier Crispi to bring Italy into
line. In 1891 the treaty was again
renewed, as it was in 1892, but with
added distrust and opposition on the
part of Italy The last renewal
was for term of twelve years, and
In 1904 the alliance, somewhat mod1-
fed In its terms, was renewed for ten
years, with the provision that any one
of the contracting powers had the
right to cancel its adherence to the
alliance by giving notice one year be-
fore the expiration of the treaty.
The last renewal Of the alliance was
made on Dec. I, 1912, two years be-
fore the expiration of the agreement,
and it Is understood that this prema-
ture renewal was due to the fact that
certain changes in the treaty We're nee
essary so as to make the alliance more
binding i'll view of the expected com
plicationS in the Balkan peninsula re-
sulting from the annexation of Bosnia
and the Herzegovina by Austria and
the war in the Balkans.
The triple alliance is based upon
three treaties; the first between Ger
many and Austria, the second between
Germany and Italy, and the third be
tween Austria and Italy. The terms |
of the treaty between Germany and
Austria are practically the same as
those Of the original treaty Of 1879