New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-22
Discusses War Quietly as
Men Report at the
Consulate.
SEVERAL THOUSANDS
ALREADY REGISTERED
Newark Agent for Crown Hur-
ries Sailing Arrangements
for ReServiStS.

81 wish | wasn't so old. I'd 20 back
and fight, but I'm seventy-eight now;
so / guess they won't need me-" The
speaker was wealthy banker. whose
place of business is directly In the CEN
tire Of Little Italy. and it was Of the
nation where he had already seen ten
years service in the army that he was
talking.
His picture. taken many years ago.
hung on his wall. II showed several
medals on his breast. He told yester-
day of his work in the army, but he
also spoke of the Italy Of to-day and
the war that is expected TO come.
"Italy doesn't need any volunteers,
he repeated several times. "She has
enough men and plenty Of places to
care for them if they're wounded IN
battle. | had a letter the other day
from a friend who is nurse, and she
said everything was ready. thlhh
Austria is about finished, and the war
will be over soon after Italy gets INTO
it."
All over Little Italy men gathered
Yesterday and discussed the war IN
small groups. All agreed that IL was
soon to begin. and approved the action
of the Chamber of Deputies; but there
were some who explained that the vote
of the seventy-four represented many
thousands who were opposed TO night
ing. There was no ardent enthusiasm
prevailing in the discussions; men
were not telling how soon they would
return to fight. but talking Just as
men Of other countries have talked for
months Of conditions in Europe.
One Italian suggested that reason
for Italy's desire TO enter the struggle
was her strong power of remembering.
He explained that the Italians had not
vet forgotten the ravages OF the Aus
trians half century ago, and gave az
an illustration the case of Belgium to-
day.
This man is postponing his wedding
that he may take his place as lieuten-
ant of infantry when the word comes.
Officially, as yet, there has been no call
70 the colors. and only the men who
have to return TO serve their regular
two years have been going back to
Italy.
The persons who congregated in the
coffee shops and saloons, this Italian
said, were not those who would be the
first to answer the call when 1t would
be given. They were the takers, not
the doors. The latter. he added. were
hard at work and not lettering about
discussing the Italian situation.
Yesterday morning the Italian Con-
sul's Office was filled with reservists to
register their names and be examined
for the army, and II was estimated
that more than 5000 men had been
there for the same purpose in the last
ten days.
But despite this rush to answer the
call when il is officially given, there
have been no appreciate increases in
the bookings of the Italian steamers.
William fairfield, Of fairfield. So
lari & Co.. general agents for the ltai-
ian lines. said last night that while
the Stampalia, due to sail to-day, had
accommodations for 1900 passengers,
only 500 persons were making the trip.
He continued that on no sailing had
there been more than ten or twenty
reservists returning. Other agents
echoed this view. and they would be
able to recognize an increase of reserv-
lists because OF the reduced rates given
them.
Mr.. fairfield remarked that he hac
heard of no order calling reservist;
home. and did not think there were
many here who would return.
In Newark preparations have beer
made to insure passage for the meT
who desire 10 return 20 fight. and DR.
Eupito Conoscenti. the royal consular
agent there. said yesterday that there
had been steady stream Of men leav-
ing the city for several weeks, anC
that many more planned TO follow.