Evening journal., 1915-05-22
Bv WIILIAM PUILIp SNTMS


United Press STAFF Correspondent.
PARIS May 22.-All France was
awaiting today ltalys opening gun.
The newspaper bulletin boards were
surrounded by crowds. The Italian
embassys attaches were cheered
wherever they made a public appear
ance and there we're shouts of Long
live ltaly!' and Long live Salan-
dral"
Signor Salandrs, the Italian pre-
mier, mas become the idol Of the hour.
France is laughing at the way he out
witted the suave Won Bulow who at
tempted to overthrow him and his
cabinet. Here in Paris they call Sal
andra The foxy one"
ltaly's program is being carried
out as forecasted by the United Press
on March 90 On that date the
United Press dispatches stated that
Italy would enter the lists against
Austria six weeks thence, barring in
ternational developments.
On May 4. six week later, plus just
one day, Italy denounced the Triple
Alliance, thus preparing the way for
war. international developments
mentioned in the dispatches referred
to a matter which the United Press
was under promise not to divulge
until Italy acted.
A diplomatic agent informed me.
while in Italy. that about March %,
Italy had transmitted what was tanta-
mount to a kid glove ultmatum to
, Austria. The message was commu-
nicated verbally through Due D'Av-
arna, the Italian ambassador at vi
emma. In effect, he stated that Italy
was vexed by Austria's procrastina-
tion and would strike unless her Just
claims were recognized within a
/ reasonable time.
Austria was informed that Italy
was unwilling to wait much longer
than May /, though no absolute date
was set. Italy made il plain that she
was not asking for concessions but
/ desired the restitution Of territory
she considered rightfully belonged to
her.
The Italian ambassador almost i'm
mediately became convinced that
Austria would not cede the territory
Italy demanded. He so stated to his
government and preparations were
made for war.
The delay since May has resulted
from the desperate eleyenth-hour ef
forts of Prince Won Bulow, the Ger
man ambassador at Rome, TO stem
the tide. Austria at first refused I,
take Italy seriously and attempted Z,
put the matter over until after thl
termination of the war. When Vol
4 Bulow finally realized that Ital,
: meant business. the matter was no
only out of his hands. but out of thi
hands of the Italian government. Thi
] people of Italy had taken charge o
the situation and were demanding
. war
] In one last effort Won Bulow asket
more time TO enable Austria to pre-
o pare final offers. The Italian Parlia
I ment, accordingly, adjourned from
May - to May 90
II is understood here that instea,
OF seeking new overtures from Aus
tria, the German ambassador used tn
time granted him in an attempt {,
overthrow Salandra. The Italian pre-
mier knew OF his efforts and smile,
up his sleeve. Salandra's resignation
was the master coup He offered /
for a three-fold purpose; to test hi
! own strength before Parliament met
10 prove to Won Bulow that the il,
was up and to furnish fuel for popula
demonstrations in favor Of war. Th
Garibaldi celebrations and the ora
tions of the poet Gabrielle D'Annunzi,
set the country clamoring for action
Salandra had no doubt of the resul
when he rendered his resignation Z,
the King. He knew he would return
10 power under highly dramatic cir
cumstances with the country and Par
J lament behind him. He proved quit
as foxy as Antony on another cele
brated day of Roman history.