The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-05-20
ITALY PREPARES TO ENTER WAR
|TALy !

limited Press Leased Wire service.]
ROME, May 2o.-ltaIy today was
ready to strike. Her troops were
massed along the Austrian frontier.
Great cheering crowds surrounded tho
chamber Of deputies building where
the government is to make its dec
Iaration today. Unless the debate is
Iono drawn out, parliament, before
midnight, will pass a bill entrusting
the nations fate to the Salandra cab
met.
These are the developments Of the
last twelve hours:
Pope Benedict has cast the weight
Of his Influence on the side OF his ma
tive country; his holiness has approx
ed the text OF a prayer to be recltso
by Italian soldiers on the battlefield
and has added his hope for victory
for italian arms.
The italian foreign office today Is
sued a summary Of the green book
explaining Italy's position to the
world. Tho summary confirms the re-
port that italy on May 4 denounced
Iher treaty with Austria, thus paving
the way for war. Tho summary de-
cIared the concessions Austria was
willing to make were entirely In
adequate.
General cadorna, chief Of general
staff, arrived at Vincenza, near the
Austrian frontier and Immediately as
sumed active charge Of the italian
forces. With other staff officers he ls
awaiting the signal to open hostilItles.
Pro-war newspapers announced that
| canvass Of the deputies showed an
Overwhelming majority In favor Of war.
! Nearly 800 Of the SOB deputies will en-
list, it was announced, and the only
opposition to the governments war
program will come from portion OF
the socialist group. Following the an
nouncement made yesterday, the mill
tary today assumed control Of all lta'-
| ian railways. The government at the
same time issued strict orders to the
| newspapers to publish no reports OF
| troop movements.
the official summary Of the green
book issued today, declared that Aus
tria at the beginning 81 negotiations
was extremely reticent and would not
even accept the suggestion Of Italy
that she discuss territory concessions.
Finally on March 5, pourparlcers com
| menced under article Z, Of the triple
alliance agreement Of italy, Austria
and Germany. Germany promised to
guarantee the execution Of any agree
ment entered into by Austria and Italy
after the conclusion Of peace.
Austria first demanded that In re-
! turn for the concessions she proposed
to make, Italy guarantee political and
economic neutrality and free hand
in TIE Balkans and In Albania.
"These conditions were at once re-
iected," said the official summary.
On April 8, Baron Nonnino, the Ital-
ian foreign minister, demanded that
Austria cede Trentlno with the 1871
frontier Of the old kingdom Of Italy.
He further demanded that Austria
ceed to italy the eastern FriouI valley,
eorchetto, PIezzo, ToImino, Gradioca,
Gorilla, Montalciome, Nebresina and
the Burzolari Islands.
Italy further demanded the naInten-
ance Of Italian occupation OF the city
of Valona, Albania. She demanded
that Trieste and the country immedi-
ateIy surrounding II and the district
Of lstria be constituted an Independent
state. ..-
"Austria declined to meet these de-
nands," said the summary. "Her re-
ply was most firm. Italy accordingly
on Nav 4, denounced the treaty with
Austria" .,.e-... .-.,--..
The full text of the green book was
to be presented to the deputies when
parliament convened today. It was
understood that following the reading
of "taly's case" the government
would at once move the passage Of
bill giving it full pIenary powers. OPP
position by the socialist group was
expected to proIong the debate for
L@ k~l -
fidentIy predicted, would be passed be-
fore night. What the governments
next step would be, was in doubt. One
suggestion was that Italy will at once
forward an ultimatum to Austria set
tina a time limit Of few hours in
which Franz Josef may give final an
swer to lteIy's demands. Another re-
port was that the. Italian ambassa dor
to Vienna would first be recalled. and
mobilization orders issued Immediate
Iy after parliament acts. There were
rumors that secret orders for mobli-
zation already have been promulgated.
The pope's approval Of the war
prayer distributed among Italian
troops was regarded as Of immense
significance. In all quarters it was
pointed out the king rope and people
stand firm for war. The pope's action
Ia considered tremendous. A million
copies os the war prayer have been
printed and were distributed today
amono the troops at the front, incIud-
inu the crown prince. The PRAYER will
first be recited Immediately after the
expected declaration Of war. Copies
will then be distributed to the civil
Iian population.
The general tenor Of the prayer, II
is understood, Is plea for victory
for civilization over barbarism and fer
the blessings of a future peace. The
full text has not yet been made pub
lie.
With steam up, special trains were
(Colthued on page %