The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1915-05-24
determination of Males Likely to Be
Most Damaging Effect of Rome's
Belligerency-Concern Kaiser.
FORCE PASSAGE OF SAN RIVER
Ministerial Campaign in England De-
velops Into Newspaper Campaign
Against Kitchener's Dictatorship
By ]. w. T. MASON.

BY J. w. T. MASON.
written for the United Press)
New York, May 24-Italy's fina
preparations for war have been mad,
during the week, and concentration
Of troops along the Austrian from
tier is now proceeding. If Italy
strikes it is probable her present of.
fensive will be in the direction OF
Trieste and thence southwark
through the Istrian provinces. This
is the only entrance way into the
Austrian territory not protected by
mountains. 1t provides for an ad-
mirable terrain for a quiet advance
and for that reason has been heavily
guarded by Austrian troops since the
negotiations at Rome reached the
delicate stage.
The military consequences of
Italy's entrance into the war will
depend very largely upon the ammu-
milton that the italian army has &C
cumulated. If an immense supply is
available, the Italians should be able
to make progress and to hold what
their initial rush may gain for them.
There is much room for doubt, how
ever whether the Italian govern
ment foresaw the need of unlimited
quantities of high explosive shells,
sufficiently far in advance to have
them at the present time.
Suffer Big Losses.
Germany and Austria, therefore,
may be able to hold the Austrians in
check and in fact invade the territory
of the southern enemy, while main
tanning the Teutonic battle line in
the east and west. The most dam
aging effect of Italy's belligerency
may not be in the territorial losses
to the Austro-Germans, but in the
determination of so many of their
males. Fighting against four great
powers, the TeutOnic allies may suf-
fer twice the loss in killed and
wounded as any one of their enemy.
The effect of this depletion of men
must be a serious handicap to Ger
many in the recuperative struggle af-
ter the war.
Reports that the Roumanians are
planning to enter the war with Italy
are discounted by the success Of the
AustroG Germans in Galicia. There is
very real danger than the Russian
troops may be permanently expelled
from Galicia. In such an event, the
Roumanians would have to operate
as an Independent force or would
have to make a much wider detour
from their present base, through
Russian territory, to join the Slavs.
This detour might allow the Aus
TRANS to carry the war into Rouma-
MIA and the fate of Belgium might
fall to the Roumanians. AS long,
therefore, as the Russians are on the
defensive in Galicia, Roumania prob
ably will remain neutral.
Several Are Threatened.
During the week, the Austr0G Ger
mans have forced passage of the
San river north of Przemysl and are
threatening at the same time Pre-
mysl and Lemberg. The Russians
are fighting desperately and are
fighting better this week than at any
time since the drive across Galicia
began. But a sudden collapse or a
disorganized retreat are still prime
dangers to the Slav lines.
A ministerial crisis in England
during the week has developed into
a newspaper campaign against Lord
Kitchener's dictatorship. The min
lister of war is accused of trying to
exercise omnipotent powers and OF
engendering the success of Great
Britian's military operations. He is
charged with directing the war in
accordance with the principles he
learned while fighting against Afri-
cans and East Indians. This is
probably the reason why he failed
to realize the Importance of highly
explosive shells for uprooting the
enemy's barbed wire entanglements
and devastating their trenches. The
result will probably be a division Of
responsibility at the British war Of
fice.. Lord Kitchener hereafter will
have nothing to do with the produc
ton of ammunition but if he remain:
in the cabinet this principal activi
ties will be limited to training tn
new British armies:
Criticism Expected.
The furious attack being made OF
Lord Kitchener by English newspa
pers exhibit the dominant factor II
CONTINUED on last paKel.