The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1915-05-29
ITALIAN DEPUTIES
DECIDE FOR War
Measure Giving Government
Full Power Passes by
Vote of 407 to ~.
GERMANS TAKE PORT OF RIGA
Dispatch to London Newspaper Also
Tells of Baltic Naval Battle
Turkish Fort Falls.

London, May 21-While latest ad-
vices from the Italian capital make
no reference to an official declaration
OF war by Italy against Austria, they
do announce that the italian Parlia-
ment has conferred full power on the
government to make all decisions in
case of war for the defense of the
state.
This is taken to mean that Italy is
about to strike, if she has not already
done so. Paris is celebrating the an
nouncement of the Italian Parliament's
action as if war had been declared,
and it is quite possible that is so, for
news from Rome has been greatly de-
Iayed in reaching the United States.
The German and Austrian ambas-
sailors were still in Rome tonight, but
according to dispatches from Berlin,
their one care now is to arrange for
the safety of their nationals remain
ing in Italy.
a formal declaration Of war, or per
haps action without a formal declara-
ton, is momentarily expected.
Germans Capture Riga.
dispatch to the Daily News from
copenhagen says:
1t is stated that the Germans have
captured Riga, on the Gulf of Riga, in
Northwest Russia
A private dispatch reports a big
naval battle in the Baltic.
Riga is Russia's principal port on
the Baltic, aside from Petrograd. The
town lies at the head of the Gulf OF
Riga, 312 miles southwest of PetrO-
grad 1t is an important industrial
and commercial center, its industries
being the manufacture of machinery,
railroad cars and tobacco. 1t has a
population of about 100000, many of
. whom before the war were Germans.
Mud Stops Soldiers.
Between Newport and Arras the
ground remains watersoaked and i'm
practicable. Today was marked by a
spirited artillery engagement, during
the course of which two German ayi-
ators were sheIled, one by the British
artillery and one by the French.
Turkish Fort Falls.
According to an Athens dispatch to
the Exchange Telegraph Company,
advices from Mytilene confirm the de-
struction of the forts a. Kilid Bahr, on
the DardaneIIes The bombardment
of the Nagra forts continues day and
night
Teutonic Allies Advance.
London, May 20.-While Italy is con-
tidently believed to be making it's final
preparations to enter the war on the
side of the Allies, Austria. who would
be the direct object of it's attacks, is,
with it's German ally, attempting to in
tiict such a defeat on Russia that 1t
will be able to divert troops, if neces-
sary, to meet its new foe in the South.
The Austrian armies, in conjunction
with those of Germany, continue
massed attacks against the Russians,
who are attempting to form a new line
behind the River San, both north and
south of Przemysl and west of the Wis
tula river in Southern Poland. These
attacks, according to Austrian and Ger
man reports, have met with their
greatest success north of Przemys1,
where the Germanic allies have sue
ceeded in crossing the river and have
occupied Sieniawa on the eastern
bank
Slower in south Poland.
They also claim to have captured
some positions southeast of the form
er Austrian fortress, while their heavy
guns are keeping up a bombardment
from the west.
In Southern Poland their progress is
not so marked, the Russians having
had strong forces concentrated at
Ivangorod, which they were able to
bring into the field and check the ad-
vance.
Big German Forces in Poland.
1t is stated from Petrograd that the
Germans and Austrians are using be-
tween thirty and forty army corps on
the 200-mile front from Opatow, in Pc
land to kolomea. in Eastern Galicia
East of the latter city, in Bukowina
the Russians have broken the Austrian
extreme right and are reported to
have again occupied Czernowitz, the
capital
The sudden break in the weather in
France, which had been bright and
dry. stopped the fighting Monday, but
it has been resumed since at several
places