The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-05-26
SEIZE ALL RAILWAYS
ITALIAN DECREE PUTS ROADS In
MILITARY CONTROL
EMPIRE READY FOR WAR

EMPIkE READI FUn WAN
Kings Order Prohibits Suspected
Persons Approaching Rail Lines
Now Supervised by Authorities
..Green" Book Justifying War
Ready to Print.
A royal decree under which all
railroad lines and stations ID Italy
are placed entirely under the super
vision of the military authorities IS
published by the Official Gazette.
Under the decree military officials
are given power to prohibit suspect
ed persons from travelling on the
railroads or even approaching the
lines. All travellers are warned that
at certain points they must not look
fom the carriage windows, but must
keep the shutters closed.
Any person approaching tunnel
or bridge will be imprisoned for SIX
months. If war ha been declared
when the offensive is committed the
offender will be courtmartialed. Sol
diers and the police, entrusted with
enforcement of the decree, are au-
thorized to fire on persons who Vlo-
late its provisions.
Austria has decided to entrust to
the United States the protection OF
her subjects in Italy in the event OF
war, which is considered inevitable.
Owing to the feeling caused in the
United States by the sinking Of the
Lusitania, Germany is reported to
have decided to ask Switzerland to
undertake the same task for German
subjects and property in that coun-
try.
The Green Book containing diplo-
matte do :uments designed to show
Italy's attitude since the beginning OF
war and reports made to reconcile
the obligations of the Triple Alliance
with Italian national aspirations, has
been -set up by the typesetters en-
Sployed by the chamber OF deputies.
Every precaution was taken to pre-
vent the printers from communlcat-
ing with persons outside their Office
and they we're reminded that any be-
trayal of the secret contained in the
Green Book would make them pun
ishable by several years imprison-
ment under the law recently enacted
for the defense Of the state.
The Green Book is said to show
that if Italy fights it will be because
Sof necessity, and that during the ne
gotiations with Austria, the repre-
sentatives of the dual monarchy ap-
parently had failed to realize that
italy was firmly determined to enter
the war If she was unable to obtain
satisfactory territorial concessions by
diplomatic action.
Tue documents seek to demon,
strate: that Austria failed from the
first to understand that one Of Italy
chief purposes was to have her rec
ognize the justice of the demands
made by Italy. For Italy it was a
Z question Of maintaining her dignity
before the world and gaining her OBJ
ject at any cost. The Green Book
contains also the note of May 4, IL
which Italy, after summarizing the
/. course Of events and emphasizing
that Austria's eaurse had been con.
trary to- the letter and spirit Of the
triple alliance treaty. denounced that
treaty.
In explanation Of the manner in
which the treaty was denounced, it is
stated that on May the Duke Of
Ayana, Italian ambassador at Wen
ma, acting under instructions from
his government, notified the Austrian
minister Of foreign affairs that Italy
considered Austrias declaration o!
war against Serbia violation Of the
triple alliance treaty. He added that
the negotiations started first by Ger
many, and continued by Austria with
a view of giving Italy compensation
: for maintaining neutrality, had re
suited in Italy deciding to resume
her complete liberty Of action, both
because the Austrian offers were to-
tally inadequate and because Italy S
situation had become intolerabic.
Austria made no reply, but continued
the negotiations, offering additional
concessions.
Resentment has been caused by the
statement appearing in some German
papers that Italy denounced the triple
alliance treaty only SO far as 1t re-
ferred to Austria. The purpose OF
this statement is believed to be to
give the impression that it is possible
FOR Italy to fight only the dual mon
archy.
Rome papers point out that Italy's
sdenunciation Of the treaty only ito
Austria was not intended to imply
that Germany would not assist her
ally, but simply to accentuate the fact
that whatever differences exist are
between Italy and Austria alone and
not between Italy and Germany.
Roumania's attitude regarding the
wal; is being watched with keenest
interest. As yet no official announce
ment has been made as to whether
the cordial relations between that
country and Italy have been trans
formed into an actual alliance. There
undoubtedly is a diplomatic under
standing between the two govern
ments, as Prince Ghika, the Rouma-
nian minister, is the only foreign dip
slomat who has had long daily inter
views with Foreign Minister Sonnino
during the past fortnight.