Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-24
AMERICAN COMMERCE
WHY. PROFIT GREATLY
Italy Must Haze Vast Supplies, and
Must Come Here to Get
Them.
Two NATIONS VERY FRIENDLY
Diplomatists Construe Italy's Specific
Declaration Against Austria as
Move to Force Germany to Act.
Kaiser Expected to' Respond.
Especial to The Timeu-Dispatch.l

|
WASHINGTON. May tza.-The effect
of the entrance OF Italy'irto the Euro
pean war. according to diplomatic and
other officials here, is that it will ope-
rate In the near future Il, the grea,
benefit of American comme'rce.
J. Diplomatic and military authorities
fthink that tho Italian feet will imme-
diately replace the French fleet in the
Adriatic. and allow tho latter to pro
coed to join the Anglo French fleet
operating against the Dardancrlcs
Diplomats construe Italy's dcclara-
ton, being specifically against Aus
tria and not against Germany, ,aS n
move TO force Germany to dcclarcl war
against Italy BY not declaring war
against Germany, Italy is playing the
role of entering the war not neces-
sarily as an enemy of Kaiser Wilhelm.
oiplomatists here. however. think that
this position of italy will not be of
much value in tho German mind, AID
that Germany will respond very
promptly by declaration of war.
UNITED STATES is IN
STRONG POSITION
One OF the most competent of the adj
ADMINISTRATION officials, reviewing tho sit
untion produced by the Italian decIara-
ton. said:
The United states at the outset is
In strong position AUTOMATICALLY and
nationally with Italy. We have no out
none on the horizon. The only little
disagreement for some years has been
over the right to inspect Italian immi-
grants. but that question no longer cx-
lists by reason of the declaration Of
war
Italy has been preparing for this
war. to our knowledge for the past ten
weeks. In the meantime she has
stocked up with the material OF war.
hut only for short period. She must
again ind her market. before many
days. in the ports of the United States
The character of the war has demon
Strated that 1t takes but n short while
10 exhaust an ordinarily large supply
OF rifles. cannon. shells and powder
There is no prohibition against trade
with any nation In the weapons OF war.
although. OF course. the United States
could not bc a seller as q nation We
look TO decided increase OF our com
merce within very short time, he
cause, in addition to the actual fight
ing material, in the maintenance OF an
army. say of 100000 men. the foodstuff
proposition will he one of immediate
financial value to the United States.
Our foodstuns have been going to Eng
land and France, and Italy will be the
next big market"
\ military expert said: The whole
feet Of French battleships. cruisers,
torpedo boats, dcstroycrs and suhma.
rines which have been operating in
Austrian ports in the Adriatic will be
ordered away. | should think, and for
them Will be- substituted an equivalent
Italian naval force. The French fleet,
thus relieved. Will Join the Anglo
French fleet in the operations OF fore
Ing the Dardanelles.
WHOLE FRENCH FLEET
F0R DARDANELLES
Italy will employ other of her ships
as policemen of the Mediterranean and
allow the whole French feet. plus
probably onc-third of It's great naval
force to proceed with the work by land
and sea OF capturing Constantinople
1T will be difficult 10 estimate cor
rcctly for some weeks the relative
value OF the Italian and Austrian as n
soldier. No military man here believes
that the operations on land will be
confined TO Austrians and Italians. The
general belief is that the Austrians and
the CieSmans will make common cause
a Eainst Italy and cndcavor to force her
TO stay ut home without being of as
sistance talong the French. German and
Belgian frontiers"
Officials OF the State Department had
no official news OF the declaration OF
war by ITALY. 1t is thought however
that Italy might ask the United States
to represent her at Vienna, Berlin and
ConstantiIAoplc ~ Germany and Turkey
declare war against Italy.