New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-18
Italian Man in the Street
Considers War Inevitable
Actual Date of Intervention Only Point of Discussion
Army and Navy Being Perfected Night and Day
-Venetians Most Bitter Against Kaiser.

that war is inevitable. They say so
calmly and without any "Chauvinism.
They would prefer TO avoid war, but
they see il is being forced upon them
by the situation Germany has created.
II is the very calmness and delibera-
ton with which Italy accepts the con
fict that makes her entrance IN the
quarrel so formidable. The nation
knows what is expected of IT and VIII
do It's duty.
At the same time, there is an entire
absence OF excitement. There are no
noisy anti-Austrian demonstrations
but tho hatred of the Hapsburgs which
has been dormant for half century
is only waiting the signal to burst into
flame. Venice is "irredentist" TO a
man and will not rest until the red
white and green flag floats over Irl-
este and the Trcntino and every ltal-
ian-speaking Austrian becomes once
more free Italian.
The naval and military authorities
are working night and day to perfect
tie efficiency of the fleet and army. IN
Venice itself there are at present only
two cruisers, the Liguria and the Vet
tor Pisani. and four destroyers, but
have reason TO believe that power
full Italian feet is cruising close NJ
hand Troops have been massing IN
Venice itself and in Venetia for some
time past. A fresh regiment arrived
from Brindisi few days ago. the
ostensible reason for it's arrival was to
assist in maintaining order. But as
the recent disorders have been mainly
caused by women as protest against
the high prices of foodstuiis and the
closing of certain factories, the local
police and carabinieri were perfectly
able to cope with them.
The large airships in the immense
balloon hall near Westre make fire.
quent flights, probably to observe the
movements of Austrian war vessels
The knowledge that Austria has con-
centrated 10000 men, with large guam
titles Of artillery, in Trieste does not
tend TO diminish the tension now exist
ing between Rome and Vienna.
The only point on which one hears
discussion is the actual date when ltal-
ian intervention will take place. On
this point public opinion is divided, the
ultra interventionists" declaring tina,
now is the moment to take action, while
the more moderate section thinks that
Italy can only gain by waiting until
her military and naval preparations are
complete. and till the spring agricult-
ural work is accomplished. This will
be in two or three weeks time. If the
general mobilization were declared now
the want of agricultural labor would
jeopardize the coming harvest, on
which the nation will depend to see i,
through the coming campaign.
Meantime the Italian nation is fol
lowing the course Of the war with the
closest attention. The reports of Ger
man successes circulated by German
agents do not blind the people TO
what must be the inevitable end OF the
campaign. The IMAM on the street" in
Italy has crystallized this feeling in
the phrase which sums up the Italian
view: "Germania Gaudagnera Ii bat
tagle, ma perdera la guerra Ger
many will win the battles, but will lose
the war;