The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-05-21
INTEREST Is
NOW INTENSE
WASHINGTON Low S
CLOSELY RAPID CHANGE
OF EVENTS IN EUROPE.
Certainty Of Italy's Entrance
Into War Is Viewed With
Varied Emotions.

WASHINGTON. d. C.. May 20
Intense tnterest-almost equalling
mat Washington experienced last Au-
gust when declarations OF war in Eu.
rope followed each other in rapid sue
cession-prevailed to-day among gov
ornment officials and the large body OF
foreign diplomats on receipt Of ad-
vices that war between Austria and
Italy was now inevitable. Some of.
cial dispatches from Rome predicted
an actual declaration OF war before
The end OF this week.
The collapse of the Triple Alliance.
now officially confirmed in the Italian
Green Book. and the prospective
spread OF the war to new battlefelds
and seas. IL was everywhere recog-
nized. foreshadows further confusion
and entanglements of the information
al relations of the European powers,
the political effect OF which on the
map OF the world and the alliances
and ententes OF the future Is less cal
culable than ever before.
v. S. Interested.
Only in the possible effect in Ber-
lin on the tenor of the German an.
swer to the recent American note was
there a direct interest for the United
States In the Austro-Italian develop
ments. Some officials believed the
value OF the public opinion of the
most powerful neutral remaining
would be an important influence to-
ward a most friendly reply. while
others thought the cutting OF OF sup
plies through the Mediterranean
would cause the German admiralty TO
permit little restriction in the activi-
ties OF submarines.
In the executive quarters the most
scrupulous silence was maintained to-
ward the situation as between Austria
and Italy. the friendship Of the United
States toward both countries being
long established.
The CERTAIN exodus from the dimin-
ishing family of neutrals OF a power
ful nation with the possibility that as
n consequence OF expected territorial
adjustments in the Balkans. Rou-
mania. Bulgaria and Greece might be
drawn into the conflict overshawed all
else in the war situation.
Not Unexpected.
Italys action was not unexpected IN
high official quarters.
From official sources II also was
learned that Italy's aspirations politi.
cally and territorially. found a more
generous response in the plans which
tallies In the event OF victory have
laid for & reconstruction OF the map
of Europe than were granted in pro-
posed Austrian concessions recurring
Italy to remain neutral. Italy is said
to have believed her opportunity to
establish herself in Albania and Tri-
este. thus giving her control OF the
Adriatic. could be more surely ac-
complishod through cooperation with
the allies rather than with the Austro-
German cause.
II IL taken for granted that a state
OF war between Italy and Turkey will
follow soon. Consequently much spe.
culation Is heard upon the political e..
feet OF ltaly's enlistment with the
allies OF the future Of the DardaneIles
the Bosphorus and Black Sea ports
and the possibility that out OF II might
come a proposal 20 neutraIize these
straits with Constantinople as a neu.
tral city under joint protection OF
Great Britain and France. Russia and
Italy.