The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-05-24
Italy, the Boot of the Map of Europe, Kicks Hard
at Austria and Germany After Keeping
on Outskirts For Many Months
YOUTHS FIGHT TO Be ENLISTED
Actual Clashes Have Occurred on the Border
Where Soldiers of Two Nations are Be-
ing Rushed For the Slaughter.

In official circles It was said this
afternoon that the first big clash of
armed forces of Italy may not occur
for several days. All dispatches re-
cived here indicated that the Austrlans
had withdrawn several miles within
their frontiers, behind wire entangis-
ments and trenches and we're awaiting
the first rushes of the Italian army
The cabinet was again In session
today, drafting several proclamations
to the people and taking the nnal
steps before the italian army hurts It
self against the Austrian border. Au-
tomobiles were constantly arriving at
! the war office, but an air OF utter
calm prevailed there, in contrast to
! the scene in the street below, where
cheering crowds continued TO marcn
I in great demonstrations.
| Heavy police guards were placed
about German hotelS and shops, but
| thus far there have been no disturb
ances. The Italian press has been
unanimous in demanding that the
people Of Italy set an example to 9th
er European countries by refrainlng
from demonstrations against enemy
civilians. The injunction has hau
good effect.
Genoa dispatches today said that
an American hospital unit had ar
rived there enroute to Budapest, but
probably would change its plans and
attach itself to the Italian Red Cross.
The Red Cross began mobilizing it's
forces yesterday and will send its first
corps northward tomorrow. The OF
fees of the society today were over
whelm ed with offers of women, many
of them of noble birth, who volun-
teered service in the field as nurses.
All the royal princes holding COM
mands in the army Joined their regi-
ments today. The king, it IL reports
ed. will leave for the front within q
few days and establish headquarters
near the battle line, spending large
part Of his time in the field.
Reports that Austrians and Ger
mans are bringing up heavy guns and
preparing to force mountain passes
leading into northern italy aroused no
great apprehension here today. The
Austro-G erman, it was pointed out,
will encounter great natural fort
resses, hewn out of solid rock, and be-
lieved to be impregnable, bristlins
with great guns. The difficulties ex-
perienced by the Russians in their
attempts to pierce the Carpathians.
military experts said today, will be
Incompatible to the tremendous OBJ
stacles to be faced by an Austro-Ger-
man army of invasion.
No early clash of naval forces Is
expected here. 1t is the popular be-
lief that the Austrian fleet will re-
main in it's present position behind
the mine fields near POla, sending out
submarines and destroyers to attack
the Italian squadrons. Two German
submarines of the latest type are re-
ported to have been transported to
Pola several weeks ago. It is ex-
pected they will be used to harrass
merchant shipping in the Adriatc in
the same manner in which subma-
rines have been employed around he
British Isles.
Formally at War.
ROME May 24-With Italy formal
ly at war with Austria, the govern
ment today issued drastic decree,
forbidding all civil and religious ,ub-
lie meetings.
The decree suppresses the govern
ment parcel post and Institutes a
rigid censorship over the mails and
telegraph. 1t fixes severe penalties
for all violations.
General Cadnorna, now enroute to
the front. will assume direct charge
of the operations of the entire army,
it was officially announced. General
Carlos Caneva probably will be desig-
mated as second in command.
Baron Won Macchio, the Austrian
ambassador, left Rome early today.
The German ambassador, Prince Won
Bulow has received instructions from
Berlin to leave Rome at once.
An official manifesto. calling upon
every citizen to do his duty. was
spread broadcast in circulars issued