The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1915-05-25
Critic Believes Last Country to Enter
War Will Not Chance Early Re
verses Mobilization Important.
LENGTH OF PERIOD NOT KNOWN
Train Service to Interfere With Prog
ress- Every Delay Means Post
ponement Of Forward Movement.
BY j. w. T. MASON.


after her declaration of war Italy
will be ready to begin her main Of
fensive depends on the rapidity Of
her mobilization. During the last
few months, only Italy's first line
troops have been maintained on a
war footing. To concentrate most
Of these. corps as a single operative
army and move them forward in a
selected direction before mobilization
has been completed would perilous-
~ ungard important frontier points.
Unless the Italian general staff
hopes to duplicate the initiative Of
the Germans last August and risk
everything on the success of sud
dens4bloW, there will be much delay
before Italy's offense is uncovered.
Italy, in fact, is not in the military
position which Germany occupied at
the outbreak of hostilities last year.
Germany knew at that time that she
could mobilize more quickly than
could France, and so was able to-
move forward without waiting for
the full concentration of her troops.
But German and Austrian troops are
now. guarding all the possible lines
Of march which the Italian armies
can follow. A quick, surprise rush,
therefore, while possible, is extreme
ly dangerous and might lead to an
initial defeat, seriously affecting the
Italian morale. ~
Hold to Defense ~
To risk the consequences Of an
early reverse, with4the possibility of
the enemy securing. a strong foothold
on Italian territory, would seem to be
too daring a policy for the military
strategists at Rome to countenance.
They will: probably decide to hold
strictly to the defensive, at least
until mobilization is so far adj
yanced as to ensure proper support
for the first line defense. .sz...s.s..-.s -.
How many. days must pass before
mobilization approaches completion
cannot ne known lin advance. The
German plans for mobilizing, drawn
up during peace times, were the
only ones that stood the strain of
last August's concentrations.
Whether Italy can do better, for in
stance, than France was able to do
is not probable. France was thought,
theoretically, to be-almost as perfect
as Germany in mobilizating, but
actual experience proved otherwise.
= @." Train Service Slow
- If Italy has her mobilization so
far, advanced as to support her main
offensive within fortnight, she will
have displayed marvellous ability for
organization and transportation.
Train service in Italy is very slow.
The fastest running time between
Rome and Genoa, 300 miles in 9 IL
hours, is less that g. miles an hour.
But one train day makes the journ-
ey at that speed, and a supplement
tary fare is charged on this above
the regular rate. This circumstance
alone raises serious doubts about the
ability of Italy's railway system to
bear the strain of mobilization with
out any breakdoWns. Every delay
will further postpone the forward
movement of the army, and of course,
will increase the possibility that the
first blow may not be delivered by
the Italians at all, but by the Teu-
tonic lines. 8 ~