Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-08-20
ITALY HOLDS ARMY
AND FLEET READY TO
HURL AGAINST TURK
Five Army Corps Prepared to
Sail Moment War Is
Declared Against
Ottomans
FAST CRUISERS READY
Italian Troops Make Further Progress
in Offensive Against Tolmino.
Advance in Western Tyrol
ROME. Aug. %.

ROME, Aug. 20.
Italy Is expected to declare war on
I Turkey at once
Five army corps 100000 mem eoncen-
trated in Apula (southern italy,, have
been ordered to be prepared to leave for
an unknown destination.
A strong squadron OF fast cruisers Is
being held In readiness to steam from
here at a moments notice 1t is ex-
pected that the warshlps will be sent
against Turkey II that country declines
to satisfy ltaly's demands for the re-
lease of Italian subjects held in the OF
toman Empire.
The refusal of Turkey to allow 5000
Italians inhabting the Smyrna district
to leave has caused boundless Indignation
throughout Italy.
Despite the strict press censorship II is
known that the situation in Tripoh is
critical and that the revolt OF the Arabs
Government. After the Cabinet council
tomorrow Il is expected that the turkish
Ambassador viii be given his passports
and tat war will be declared.
The Italian Government, angered by the
disregard by the Porte of protests against
the treatment of Italian subjects In Tur-
key. is reported to have issued an ulti-
matum demanding that Italians be al
lowed to leave the country when they de-
sire.
Commenting on the Balkan situation
is undoubtedly the work of the Turkish
the Secolo says:
THE only way to prevent the threat
ened Austro-German march through
Serbia and Bulgaria with the consent Of
the latter, who thus would be enabled
to conquer by force the territories she
claims, is to return Macedonia to the
Bulgarians.
Bulgaria has behaved well in not aug
mentirg her pretensions. although she
holds in her hands the key to the Dar-
danelles. Greece should be satisfied, in
asmuch as Bulgaria claims less than was
granted to her after the first Balkan war
but II Greece still resists the Quadruple
Entente cannot protect her interests
against her will. They must abandon her
to a Bulgarian attack"
The movement of Italian troops against
the Austrial stronghold of Tolmino, on
the upper Isonzo, and against Goritz is
making progress. according to today's Of
ficial war bulletin. Austrian aviators are
developing great activity. but their opera
tions have been effectively neutralized by
italian artillery.
The official statement given out by the
War Office was as follows:
'In the Tonale zone (western TyroD
our artillery gravely damaged the fort
dominating the heights of Pozzi. The
enemy was forced to abandon his opera
tions on these heights.
"In the Cordevole Valley the enemy's
batteries, after unsuccessfully trying to
dislodge our troops from their positions,
bombarded the village of Pieve Livinal-
longo, causing a confagration.
I'm the Rienz Valley we have made
considerable progress, capturing re-
doubt on Monte Pater and trenches near
Dreizinnenhuette, as well as some pris-
oners.
Near Tolmino on August 1S a counter
attack by the Austrians was repulsed On
the Carso plateau our troops progressed,
taking prisoners and machine guns.
THE enemy Is showing great aeroplane
activity. Our avators, aided by our ar
tillery. are, however. frustrating his ef-
forts"