The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1915-03-23
By WILLIAM PHILLIP SIMMS.

By WILLIAM PHILLIP SIMMS.
Copyright, 1915, by United Press.
Copyrighted in Great Britain and
France
Paris, March 23.-Italy's entrance
into the war within six weeks is now
practically certainty.
No international developments can
interfere with the carrying out of the
governments program, which is evil
IDENTIFY fixed and of which the en-
tire nation is fully cognizant 1
have just returned from Italy 1
visited Naples, Rome and Genoa and
a dozen other Italian cities. l have
talked with government officials,
military and naval officers, diplomats
and men in all walks of life.
Crisis Has Come.
They assure me that the crisis has
come and that Italy is about to
plunge into the war on the side Of
the allies. All of the Italian ports
are crowded with incoming men of
military age. Genoa and Naples are
bee-hives of youths from the United
States and South America, recalled
to the army. Everywhere troops are
minds one of great moving picture
show with great armies drilling
across the screen and an operator
back in his box speeding the film.
l spent an afternoon at the drill
grounds at Ventinmiglia,zthe Italian
fortress town, Is miles north of Nice,
watching a regiment of Bersergliari
young men, husky and smiling. They
were being drilled in squads, compa-
MES, battalions and regiments always
at about 12O steps to the minute,
which practically amounted to dou-
ble-quick time.
Your men seem to be fit and we'll
trained 1 remarked to a captain ..
They've been drilling like that
for three weeks he replied, and
then significantly, they'll be ready
for the fight in two weeks
Ready for Battle.
He drilled the men in the same
strenuous fashion that a trainer pre-
pares a prizefighter for a champion
ship bout. He sent them through
their PAGES at a fast and furious
clip, allowing only 10 minutes for
rest periods. Some of the mems
headgear was covered with the same
grayish cotton material as their uni
forms. They were ready to the last
detail for spring and summer cam
paigning.
The emphatic impression one gains
through a trip through Italy, meet
ing influential men, is that Italy will
be forced shortly to do one of two
things-either to abandon all idea
of war and release the men she is
now holding subject to mobilization
or else declare war, giving these some
thing to do. Since last August tens
of thousands of Italians have been
recalled from foreign countries.
Most of them are now idle They are
swarming over the country clamor-
ing for Italy to take decisive stand.
If Italy does not intend to fight then
they demand that they be released
so they can earn their living. If
Italy intends war then they want
war Immediately so they can fill their
empty stomachs.
Prepare for War.
Teachers have been notified to
close their school on April 1, so that
the buildings will be available for
military purposes. The country was
to go on a ration of war bread" to-
day. Under this order the bread is
to be standardized to conserve the
nations grain supply and the baking
of fancy pastry is to be prohibited.
Every unit of the Italian army, it is
understood, is now thoroughly drill
ed and ready to absorb it's full com
plement of reserves upon the issu,
ance of general mobilization orders
Even the Italian Boy Scouts are
undergoing special instructions un-
der officers detailed for that purpose
from the regular army.
Italy can only be described as on
tiptoe, feverishly expectant, and
ready for war she is certain is near
ot