New Iberia enterprise and independent observer., 1915-03-20
ITALY AND THE WAR.

Inc Austrian court mas Away
been held the proudest in Europe
and it is this exaggerated prid,
which apparently is to force Ital,
into the war arena and incle
the peril by which Austria airead,
is practically surrounded.
From the beginning of the wa,
Germany has had a full apDrec
iation of the danger to the Dual
Alliance of ltaly's participation
on the side of the Allies. Since
the war was provoked bv Austria
and hence did not come within
the scope of the defensive al
lance. Berlin Drohab abiv never
hoped to enlist Italy's help in d
campaign the success Of whicl
means so much for Austrian ag
grandizement; but there can be
no doubt that she did expect so
TO deal the cards as to inst re
lalian neutrality.
With that end in view she has
been earnestly striving 10 pere'
ade Austria TO make territorial
concessions that at least in part
would satisfy Italy's longing for
her lost provinces. From time
to time the cables have brought
intimations of Austrian acquies-
sence in the German plans. and
(talv has Sc steadily been holding
back from Going into the war that
no incOnsiderable color has been
given to these reports.
1t is apparent now, however,
chat plide has triumphed over ex-
pediency in Austria and that
ftaly's srdden activity, forecast
ing her decision to take pot luck
with the Allies. grows out of
realization that she can get moth
ing from Austria which she does
not fight for and conquer by su-
perior force.
This realization is believed
finallv to have come from recent
carefully written editorial in the
Vienna Neue Freie Press regard
ed as having been inspired by t
Baron Bu,ian. the new Austrian a
premier. and to be clear refec- L
lion Of his policy. t
No reasonable statesman" 1t T.
Iaid, lean imagine the possibil-
tv that great empire would sub n
nit to be chased away from the 4
Yea simply to please some super il
lationalists living in it's terri f
,ory. If we lose our coast. we
hall always strive to get it back Il
md the strength of natural law a
viii crown our efforts with sue Il
ess. But it is not possible to tt
hink that our monarchy, after
a unprecedented struggle like r.
he present. will submit to a re- h
action Of territory SO long as she a
capable Of breathing" Il
What kept alive for over forty =
ears the embers of French
aired Of Germany mas kept alive
Italian hatred Of Austria. If
(aly had gone to war along side
( Austria and Germany it could
- have been on the promise Of IN
estoration Of her lost pro- to
!. If she has remained co
ksral SO long it has long been ar
cause she hoped that might be WI
Ie reward of her neutrality. If M
y now casts her lot with her M
'gical friends it will be only be- de
Itlse she feels that this is the log
n moment to strike for the re-
in Of what Austria wrested
ON her. ed
~, then, Italy decides to take rel
. plunge, it will because Aus rel
q has driven her to it. From th'
= standpoint Of possible results "v
Ab terrible trick which Austria tn
vites in adding another TO her co.
: of enemies; but however we "i
W differ as to the wisdom of vi,
: course she is pursuing it is not tut
~ to withhold a measure Of ad- ius
ration for her unquestionable she
ide. She knows that if Italy :
drawn into the war against her. II
may prove to be the decisive
tor in the great struggle-it -
" mean her own crushing de-
4 and dismemberment; but
~ is something fine and heroic
The spectacle of an imperiled
using to surrender principle as
price Of her triumph.-States.
.ome Forms Of Rheumatism