The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-17
ITALY'S WAR PLANS
ARE NOW COMPLETE
Royal DEGREES on Finance Are
Taken to Prove Conflict
Is Inevitable.
GUARD THE FOOD RESERVE

ment. although blamed for its passive at
titude silently prepared for war. When
Parliament opercd Premier Salandra an
nounced that the army and navy we're
ready and that Italy If necessary could
Intervene at once.
II the war preparations were completed
IN secrecy and war spirit was kept down
until now. the siyrinraut announce nent
made by the Premier left no doubt ~ 10
Italy's future intentions. The Kaiser has
tened to send Prince Won Buelow to Rome
In the hope he could persuade Italy TO re-
main neutral lest the Austrian Amhas-
sador Baron Macchio. should be in the way
while Prince Won Buelow pleaded for ltaly's
neutrality he was ordered to spend the
Christmas and New Year holidays In Vienna.
A diplomatic indisposition was impossible
for the Baron owing to the prior claims Of
his German colleague. Herr Won Flotow,
whose absence from Rome to make way for
Prince Won Buelow was motived by such an
tndisposition.
When Prince Won Buelow drove in a state
carriage to the Quirinsl to present his cree
dentials to the King q guard Of honor was
lined up TO present arms and dip the nag
while the band played the German imperial
snthom and all the troops Of the garrison
wero called out They guarded the Austrian
Embassy and Consulate and surrounded the
ManIoni Theatre. where Republicans. an
archists, anti-militarists, Garibaldians, led
by Gen. Rcciotti Garibaldi. the hero's only
surviving son. and Democrats shouted
Death to Austria and the hanRman Francis
Sosephi- and Long live Trent and TriesteT
The Nationalist had held an anti-neu-
trality meeting on the previous day and
paraded the streets singing the patriotic
hymn OF Mameli Italy awoke and donned
the helmet Of Scipioi- A revolutionary anti
neutrality league has been formed at Milan
with sections In every town in Italy In order
TO hasten Intervention at any cost. Uni
vers,ty students too young to enlist as
volunteers have notified the Government
that they are willing to run street cars and
act as postmen during the mobilization.
zupeiIi Accepts Oner.
The Federation Of Italian Civil Engineers
offered the services Of all the members in
case Of mobilization and Gen. Zupelli. the
Minister OF War. accepted their otfer and
pointed out the advantages of having many
we'll trained men available for work in the
scientific branches Of the service.
l might instance other similar cases
indicating that ltsly's war preparations
have been completed and that there is no
secrecy regarding future Intervention.
Ii Is not. however, necessary to show that
the majority of Italians are bent on war
and that they are waiting from one mo-
ment to another to march against Aus
tria. Sufficient indications OF the hatred
of Italians against Austria have been
given since the outbreak OF hostilities.
What was lacking in Italy was positive
proof that the Government had decided
to intervene This proof is now available.
IL was snorded on the same day that
Prince Won Buelow presented his Creden-
tials and the democrats throughout Italy
commemorated the anniversary OF the
Trieste martyr" Guglielmo Oberdan
who was hanged in 1882 for having plotted
TO assassinate the Emperor OF Auscria
The proof consists of three royal de-
crees signed by the King and relating to
financial legislative measures adopted
when war is imminent These DEGREES
complete the preparations OF war carried
on since last August and surely would
have never been issued had war not been
inevitable. The first deals with the $780,
600 900 national war loan to meet excep-
tional extraordinary expenditure. More
than half OF this loan. which is to be foated
nett month at "a per cent. With "A per
cent. discount on the nominal value of
shares repayable within twenty-five years,
has already been covered. Italians are
proverbially thrifty and they invariably
invest their savings in Government securi-
ties. During the last three years large
amount OF money was invested in per
cent. Treasury bonds which are now quoted
at e7.eo and repayabe at par two, three
and four years hence.
Confidence In Government.
As the confidence OF the people In the
Government has not been shaken. the money
invested in treasury bonds will be advanta-
geously placed in the new loan which has
been issued under most favorable auspices.
The fact that there is no financial stTingency
In Italy and that the Government can rely
on the patriotism of Italians. who willingly
invest their savings to meet extraordinary
demands for war preparations, affords a
significant proof OF the war spirit now ami
mating the country. History il repeating
itself and Italian patriotism now is equal
to- II not greater than. that displayed during
the wars OF independence which led To
Italys union.
The Italian Government. besides providing
the sinewsiof war. with characteristic fore
sight has taken the necessary precautions
TO aid and revive trade and industries and TO
avert a wheat famine.
Tho three Government banks-the Bank
OF Italy. the Bank of Naples and the Bank of
Sicily--which are the authorized banks OF
issue and the leading deposit and saving
banks have been united by royal decree into
financial aid to industrial concerns The
federation OF banks is authorized during
the next two years to grant loans amounting
to $50 900 900 on security OF Industrial stocks
to advance money for the importation of
raw materials needed by Italian manufac-
turers and to aid trade and industries in
every possible way on advantageous terms.
The federation is managed by aboard pre-
sided over by the director general OF the
Bank of Italy and its operations will extend
10 the seven principal cities OF Italy, namely,
Milan, Turin, Genoa, Florence, Rome,
Naples and Palermo.
The third decree deals with the important
problem OF the provisioning aud distribu-
ton of wheat and flour According TO thi,
"ecree the chamber OF Commerce. the
provinces and the commune, with popula-
ton OF not less than 10, 900 souls, are en-
powered to unite ia voluntary committees
with the object Oi assuming control OF the
provisioning and distribution oil wheat md
flour within the pro inclal districts Wheat
and flour are purchased aud rcsold by
these committees iUr the public service
and without any profit No free uistriDu-
ton is to be made to cpmmunes anI the
supplies 10 retail dealers will be paid lor
at cost prices, including the expenses Tor
storage, transport ana distribution The
lTigpA will he \ hp fprpp,ttt.,., ,.,..l