New-York tribune., 1915-03-16
Itaiy's Decision.


The reasons for Italian participation in
he Great War have been too frequently
to have any novelty now. When
Italy gained her unity in the last century,
first with the aid of Napoleon III and then
with that Of Bismarck, two fragments of
territory inhabited by Italians were left
10 Austria, the TrentnO district of the
Tyrol and the city of Trieste, with the
shores of the Istrian Peninsula.
For every Italian patriot this Italia ir-
rcdcntd has been a humiliation for many
years. Irritation at France over the seiz-
IRE of Tunis by the republic in 1881 sent
italy into the Triple Alliance and for a
generation postponed the Austro-ltalian
struggle for the Trentino.
But Austria and Italy were natural
rivals in the Adriatic and in the Kgean.
The annexation Of Bosnia by Austria in
1908 awakened Italian apprehension. Aus
trian ard italian interests clashed in Al
jania, and the Dalmatian provinces of the
old ctades of Venice, were
included in the dream of greater Italy.
In the last ten years France and Italy
have drawn together. The old Tunis re-
sentiment, the older bitterness over French
acquisitions of Nice-these have died out.
Italian sympathies are naturally with the
liberal powers, the old hatred of Austria,
the old memories of the sufferings of the
century have proved stronger
than more recent disputes.
Because of her lack OF sympathy with
her Austrian and German allies, Italy
stayed out Of the war in August. She seems
now on the point Of entering it, not be-
cause Of any present occasion for hostility,
but because Austrian weakness offers the
opportunity to complete the work Of 1866,
when a similar Austrian disaster gave her
q chance to regain Nenet!a.
In addition, Italy recognizes the ap-
proach Of Turkeys ruin. Rome perceivcs
that if italy is to share in the new dlvi-
sion Of territories in the Egean she must
share in the labor There is nothing very
noble or inspiring in the Italian course. It
is almost the exact repetition Of Rumania's
role in the second Balkan war, save that
Rumania sought to enslave Bulgars, while
Italy is honestly seeking to liberate some
enslavcd Italians.
Berlin, long foreseeing Italian action,
sought first to win Italy as an ally by
Offering her British and French Medter-
ranean colonies. Failing, she then pro-
posed to Austria the peaceful cession of
The Trentino, but Austria seems in no
mood for peaceful cession. Hence the
present crisis has come. Italy may still
get her price without fighting, but that
seems increasingly slight.
If Ettor and Tannenbaum really want to
see how what they preach works out in prac-
tce. they should head for Carranzazed and
Zapataized Mexico City.
Subway fires arc becoming so frequent that
rn.a DAYS the Investigators, having
had sufficient practice, may discover what
causes them.
'Ai'.i.t-a.li7 OF -N.t .hate 'y JAe round. -
I.eo'.c.
Quanttatiyc analysis, which is quite in ac-
cord with much business theory these days
When in doubt take whack at interna-
ticna law, seems TO be the order Of the day
among the European belligerents.
Billy Sunday's collection proves that vaude-
Vile methods pay better than the "legiti-
mate" elsewhere than on the stage.
The du Pout employees, with their 20 per
cen, wage increase, probably fail to appre-
cate the horrors Of war
.
Maybe Mr.. Wilson hopes before he gets out
20 show the country Three Billion Dollar
Congress.
Bank Wrerker Resting Headline a
His profession entails hard labor"