The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-10-29
In Occupying Avlona Italy
Suggests Pact With Britain
Victory for Allies Foes in Present Struggle Would Mean
Austrian Empires Extension Along Adriatc, to
Which Southern Kingdom Holds Key

Six months ago the announcement Of
the landing OF Italian marines at Az
Iona. OF the return of Greek troops to
Northern Epirus would have promptly
precipitated n general European crisis
If to-day 1t Is overlooked in the pres
ence of desperate and possibly decisive
battles In Flanders and Poland, 1t must
still be recognized as promising one
more complication. one more major
change in European conditions when at
last pace shall be restored.
The value OF Avlonl Is revealed by
single glance at the map of the Adri-
attic. At the mouth of the sea, where
II narrows and both shores are visible
from the deck of steamer In mldchan-
mel, on the eastern shore Is the wide
bay Of Avlona Forty miles here sep
arate Italy from Albania. In Italian
hands Avlona commands the Adriatic
In Austrian hands, in the possession OF
a weak State, guaranteed by neutrality
treaties which are but scraps of paper
henceforth. 1t becomes an instant peril for
Italy.
Look again at the same map and II
will be seen that all the good harbors
are on the eastern shore, most OF them
covered by the Austro- Hungarian col
ors Trieste. Sebenico, Gravosa, Ffume
and Cattaro. the last the 1nest~of ALL
have belonged TO the Hapsburgs since
the Congress Of Vienna. Yet without
exception they bear italian names. and
In all Of them are to he found the
splendid monuments OF ancient Nene-
tian glory.
The creation Of the Kingdom Of AL
hanii at the Conference Of London In
1913 was the direct consequence 81 con-
flicting rivalrleS. For the Albanians no
great Power cared. But Austria was
resolved that the Serbs should not have
their "wndow on tho sea" Italy was
determined that tho Austrian Empire
should not descend the Adriatic until
Il touched the Greek frontier and In
cluded Avlona Finally Italy and Aus
tria alike were determined TO keep the
Slav proteges Of the Car from possess
ing an Adriatic littoral which might af-
ford a base for Russian fleets.
Kingdom soon CrumbIe..
Yet even AZ the Albanian Kingdom
was created il Crumbled. Tho state
included within its territories not a
nationality striving for unity, not n new
Servia or a second Bulgaria, but number
Of warlike tribes. separated by religion,
by rlvalries OF princes. n country wholly
| comparable with the Scotland Of the
clansmen. Greece. Servia. Bulgaria. Ru-
mania had been created because OF an In
| ternal risorgimento. but from the fall OF
| the Roman empire to the Peace Of Bucha-
| rest Albanian conditions had not changed
Thus before the tragedy OF Sarajevd
provoked n world war TN German prince.
| ling who resided rather than ruled In
| Durazzo had once been n fugitive from
! his capital and was now little hut rris-
oner with the opening shot Of the great
! conflict ne quilted his State. leaving he
! hind him only the chaos which had beer
the normal condition for centuries.
| II Austria and Germany should win In
| the great war then Il would he inevitabl,
that Servia and Montenegro would become
| Hapsburg provinces, Austrian empire
! would descend the Valley OF the Morava
| toward Sebenico and along the Adriatit
| from Ca:tora 10 Scutarl and Avlona, One,
| this advance came Italy wsus In fact
| lose the mastery OF the Adriatic. More
| than that. the Austrians would outstriI
her In the march toward the Near East
To forestall this Italy has now .andet
| her marines in Avlona, as she sent heI
! troops to Tripoli three years ago. Who
ever wins In the present struggle will hav,
to confront the accomplished fact OF Ital
| ian possession Of the key of the Adriatic
For the allies this has no peril Italar
possession OF Avlona, an Italian protec
torate OF Albania both are without men
ace TO any near or remote concern OF tn,
enemies Of Austria and Germany.
! But on the other hand, and this Is tn,
vital thing. a victorious Austria would no
endure the presence of Italy on both side,
OF the Straits Of Otranto England coulC
quite as patiently see Germany In Calais