New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-19
Secret Defences Against
Invasion They Consider
Inevitable.
PRISONERS AT WORK
ON FORTIFICATIONS
Army Corps to Resume Offensive
Against Servia-Fleet at
POla Awaits Attack.

Rome. March ls.-Word comes from
Trieste that squads of Russian prison.
ers and Galican refugees have been
sent TO Trentino, where they are work.
ing on defensive fortifcations. digging
trenches along the frontier and clear
ing away snow from the mountain
passes. Heavy guns are being mounted
in the Alpine passes on specially
batteries are being extensively aced
close to the frontier, for the Austrians
do not rely on the permanent fortifca-
tions, which are well known 10 the
Italians. The Austrian plan is 20 set
up secret defences against an invasion
which they now consider inevitable.
Practically an entire army corps is
destined to resume the offensive
against the Seryians. 1t is 6 adually
concentrating on the western frontier,
where Archduke Eugene frequently
pays flying visits.
Mines Laid Along Coast.
Meanwhile the Austrian feet. which
since the Anglo-French naval opera
tlons in the Dardanelles has often been
cruising in the Adriatic, Is now again
concentrated at Pola. where an Italian
attack is fea:ed. Mines are again
being promiscuously laid along the
coasts, and navigation in the eastern
Adriatic is now almost impossible.
Only torpedo boats are out occasion
ally on patrol duty, and searchlights
sweep the horizon throughout the
night.
The Premier yesterday announced
that Parliament would be adjourned
for a few days. Ii is plausibly con-
Jectured that diplomatic negotiations
are expected TO be concluded shortly
and important Developments are i'm
minent Prince Won Bulow. contrary 10
expectations, did not confer with the
Premier and Foreign Minister. lie has
paid visits every morning TO the Aus
trian Ambassador, who has returned
the visits regularly every evening.
J Special messenl. RS. too. have b,en sent
to 3erli. and Vienna almost daily.
Besides the so-call,! embassy bags
they conveyed boxes filled with docu-
ments, evidently precautionary re-
moval in case of trouble. Prince Won
Bulow recently conferred with a prom
inent Senator who is an intimate friend
of the Premier. II is supposed that he
was acting as a medium of communi-
cation between ron Bulow and the gov
ernment.
Many Germans Departing.
Many German residents here who
were known as agents and emissarles
of their government fear expulsion and
already are leaving. They are closely
watched by the police and are often
shadowed until they reach the frontier.
The government is likely to prohibit
the publication of news OF a military
character, as empowered By the new
low now before the Senate. Il may be
enforced within a couple of days. Al
though II is practically impossible TO
ascertain from official sources whether
Prince Won Bulow's negotiations have
been definitely broken of. il is learned
that the government Is determined not
TO tolerate any attempt al prOcraStina-
tion irrespective of offers and pro-
posals based on Italy's interests and
national aspirations. Events are being
closely watched. especially in the Near
East. They will undoubtedly influence
and probably hasten future action.
Paris, March l8.-Germans staying
at resorts in the Italian Riviera have
been privately notified by the authori-
ties TO leave Italian territory immedi-
ately, says an agency dispatch from
Nice.