The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1915-01-02
when THE WAR BEGAN
STAT ment From Form Premier
of Italy Regarding His Conn
try's Position ut That Time

The extraordinary information that
the Italian government has laid be-
fore the world with resbect to Aus
trian proposals of year ago confirms
the view that the attack on Servia
was for other reasons than the as
sassination of the grand duke. From
the statement of Signor Giolitti. at
the time Italy's premier, it appeared
that on August 9, 1918, Austria
communicated to Italy her intention
to act against Servia. Austria asked
Italy to construe such action as de-
fensive and thus casus foederis and
obligating Italy to assist Austria in
the enterprise. 1t further appears
from the documents presented by
Signor Giolitti that Austria at the
same time addressed similar COM
munication to Germany. The Ital-
ian government promptly replied
that it could not regard an attack on
Servia as defensive and did every
thing in its power to dissuade Austria
from what it called "a dangerous
adventure.
Thus it is established that the re-
fusal this year of the Italian govern
ment to support her allies of the
triple alliance was not decision
hastily arrived at Thus it is also
established that her allies had full
warning long before the crisis of
last July that Italy would not join in
what she regarded as an aggressive
and unwarranted action. Italy has
been attacked in Germany and Aus
tria as false to her treaty obligations.
She has been accused of having en-
joyed the benefits of the triple ALI
ance and of repudiating its burdens.
1t has been said that she saw an op-
portunity to recover Trent and
Trieste and thus treacherously aban-
doned her allies. 1t is not likely
that the charges will be made again
by any one wishing repute for accur-
acy. The good faith Of Italy has
been amply indicated. Both Berlin
and Vienna knew for at least year
that Italy would not adopt the fiction
that an attack on Servia was defen-
sive action. On June 80, 1913, with
out warning, war broke out between
Bulgaria on one side and Servia and
Greece on the other. The Bulgarian
king ordered secret attack on his
allies. Why Bulgaria dared to do
this is now known. On June 26
there was signed at Sofia secret
agreemen between Bulgaria and Aus
tria. The treaty stipulated that Bull
garia should withdraw from the
Balkan alliance and moboliZe should
there be war between Austria and
Servia or Austria and Russia. In re-
/ turn Austria agreed to move against
Rumania should Rumania act dur
ing the war between Bulgaria and
Greece and Servia. What is even
more important. Austria agreed.
should the war in which Bulgaria
was embarking take turn unfavor-
able to Bulgaria. to intervene to pro-
tect Bulgaria. Thus encouraged and
melted and guaranteed, Bulgaria,
four days later, while still in negotia-
ton with them. attacked her allies.
The war turned out badly for Bull
garia, and Austria did not stand be-
hind her guarantees. Rumania came
into the war, and Austria did moth
ing because, it is asserted, the
Hohenzollern emperor of Germany
had sympathy with the Hohenzollern
king of Rumania. By July Is Bull
garia was beaten by Servia to the
west, by Greece to the south, while a
Rumanian army was drawing near
Sofia. On July 20 the Bulgarian
king appealed to the Gar to save
him, and the Gar urged moderation
on the successful allies. On August
10, 1918, the treaty of Bucharest
was signed. Bulgaria accepting the
terms prescribed to her. The Giolitti
revelations show that Austria, up to
the last day, endeavored, to induce