The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-16
SAYS ITALY MUST
FIGHT TOSAVEF FACE
Writer in "MessaggerO" De-
'clares Nation Otherwise Will
Cease to Be Great.
INSISTS RESULT WILL PAY
Special co-vesponde~cs ~ TIE svx

Special Covespoade~cs ~ TIE svr.
ROME. April e7.-An anonymous MEM
Der OF the italian Parliament contrib
utes a notable article to the Messosoero
OF Rome confuting the two main OBJ
i~ections against 1taly's Intervention based
on the human and financial sacrifices
entailed. Tho favorite argument OF the
neutraiists and pro-Germans against
Italy's Intervention 10 that as the war
will last at least nine months, COST the
country over 100000, 900 and the loss
OF about half . million men. Italy
cannot AFFORD Il. Those who favor inter-
v~ention. and OF course they are the
majority Of Italians. admit that Italy's
Intervention inevitably implies hsses In
men IND money. but contend that g
losses besides being remedied will be
more than compensated by the results
Of the war. 40 that far from being do
populated or financially ruined Italy
will undoubtedly profit by the war,
II Is true. The member OF Parlia ment
writes In the M~essoooero. that in all
probability the war will last nine months
more. because II Is during the difficult
season Of winter that a conquered coun-
try IL exhausted. but Italy's intervention
will surely hasten It's end. since the
Allies, when Italy and the Balkans Join
them. will acquire such q great superb
ority over the enemy that further re-
sistance will he next to useless. But
apart from this fact events mature 30
rapidly and the unforeseen has 30 often
happened during the present great war
that peace may be nearer than II seems,
since practically both Germany and
Austria have already been defeated.
When Italy Joins the Allies she Will
have more than a million first line troops
In the field. and to estimate the casual
ties at half a million men. namely. 10
per cent. OF the total. is rank ~exaggera-
ton. The losses will probably not ex-
ceed 25 per cent. but even adm!ttirg
that they will be heavier. for instance
80 or 40 per cent, such a proportion
would be insignificant for a country OF
& 1000. 900 inhabitants. with such a
steadily increasing birth rate and such
a healthy vitality. The var will cost
italy at least $500. 900, 900. probably
more. and as the country ie still payins
of the cost OF the 1r,poli wal II IL
well known fact that she cannot well
AFFORD further expenditure.
II must he borne In mind, however
saws the writer OF the article, that such
vast sums have already been spent ir
preparing for war hat II Italy remains
neutral the financial, result will be thu
same. while II italy intervenes tht
money spent will be compensated b,
territorial aoauisitions and other ad
vantages. and hence II will have beer
p~rohtably spent. II she remains neutra
II will represent . dead loss. Besides
II Il a mistake to think that italy a
not AFFORD to IA OF her war expendi
ture without resorting to special wal
taxes or increasing existing taxes A
present the wealth of Italy Is estimate,
at about fifteen billion dollars ant
Yields to the State a yearly revenue
Of about $500. 900, 900. out OF which on,,
$500. 900. 600 represents repayment Of III
national debt and military expenditure
so that only 2 per cent. Of italy
wealth Is spent to pay on past debt,
contracted for the Trlpoli war.
Now In tho case Of the present war
the argument continues. It Ia well know,
that the wealth Of the unredeemed prov
inces. Trent. Trieste M Istrla. amount
TO more than a billion dollars. and b!
applying the same system adopted II
Italy when these provinces are annex
the revenue they yield, estimated a
$50, 200. 900 a year. will he sufficient I,
cover a debt OF $500. 900. 900 at 6 pc
rent. interest. approximately the mou
spent by Italy for the war. In othe
terms these provinces will pay the ex
penses for their redemption.
But even admitting that after IN,
war Italy. despite the fact that he
boundaries will have been Strengthens
and her enemies weakened to such n
extent that another war will be impos
sible for many years to ONE will no
reduce her ornaments. her finances will
not he crippled and she will he able I
continue In future the present militar,
expenditure. BY n simple comparison
between the war OF Tripoli. for whicI
thousands OF ives were sacrificed an,
vast sums OF money spent for the mer
acquisition Of sand, and the present wa
undertaken to redeem" a millio,
Italians from Austrian rule, the ma
terial advantages from the second wa
win appear enormous. With the pos
session OF Trieste. Pola and Fiume, Ital
will dominate the Adriatic, her mer
camille ANY will be doubled, her con
meraial activity will reach tho i;asi
where a new economic era Is dawninr
and new helds for italian emigrant
will be opened In Europe and Asia.