Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1915-05-27
PIONEER PAPER or THE COUNTY

Another European power is now
part of the terrible conflict waging
on that benighted continent. Italy
has cast ner lot with the Allies. To
the casual observer in this country
it would seem that Italy was look
ing for a soft spot to light. 1t
would appear that she was purpose
ly attempting to determine from
which side she would reap the most
reward and. having decided that
point in her own mind, she was
ready to strike.
To understand the Italian situa-
tion it is necessary to look back a
few months and call to mind the
conditions that prevailed at the
opening of hostilities following the
attack of Austria on the little Ser
bian kingdom. 1t will be remem-
bered that at that time there exist
ed two alignments in Europe known
az the Triple Alliance and the
Triple Entente. Germany. Austria
and Italy formed the first-named.
England. France and Russia were
the members of the latter. 1t was a
sort of defensive agreement
whereby each member agreed to
support the other in the event of at
tack. At the beginning of the war
Germany called upon Italy to take
up arms in her behalf. At that
point the Italian government re-
fused to act. They held that the al
lance did not require their entrance
into the war in a manifestly agrees
sive cause.
For months Italy has held back.
Week after week have come rurnors
of trouble from that source. To
the writer's mind there is an evil
dence Of master mind in the
Italian ministry and that man is no
doubt the premier. Salandra. whose
resignation brought on q crisis. 1t
can be as easily seen that her failure
to 10 so was not missed by the Teu-
ton. That there was little said
about it may have lulled many an
Italian to sleep with the idea that 1t
meant nothing.
Italy appears to have been bar.
gaining for her assistance for many
months. But what has she been do
ing? She has been profting by the
other nations missteps. For months
she has been feverishly collecting
war supplies. She has been in {
better position to do this as neu
trail than az beligerant nation
For months she has been preparing
for the step just taken. And, a
least 10 far as the mind of Premier
Salandra is concerned. no doub
with just such object in view.
Italy and Austria have not beer
situated so as to act as al
lies. Their interests conflict. But
above all, when Italy refused t.
come to the assistance Of Germany
the die was cast. Under no condi
tions could she afford to see tina
power vanquish the Triple Entente
for when that reckoning had conn
it must be the turn Of Italy next
Germany had not and would not forge
the action Of her ally when the wa
broke out. And self-preservatiol
required that Germany should no
win.
What has been the result? A
long as the nations at war wer
equally matched the Italians wer
at liberty to remain neutral withou
danger-and were at liberty to con
tinus their preparations for the fina
step. But when Germany and Austri
began to push back the Russian to
dangerous degree the step could b
nolonger delayed. Premier Salandr
knew that we'll. Other Italian
knew it, too. Italy isn't in this wa
for a little piece of added territory
True enough, that il the stake 70
her il she wins. But had she re
manned idle and watched to see tn