The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-23
ITALY NOW READY
TO DEAL HEAVY BLOW
plan Of Campaign for striking
Turkey Is Completed.
!Special Cabie Despntch % THn srN.


ROME, Aug. Preparations for an
extensive campaign of the Italians
against Turkey have been completed
The military authorities are. however,
maintaining the strictest secrecy regard
ing their plans While the date on
which these operations will begin is as
little known as the objective. II is gen
orally supposed that active warfare
against Turkey will commence as soon
as Premier Salandra returns from the
Austrian front. whore he went yesterday
to consult with King Victor Emmanuel
1, has been known here for two weeks
that an Italian war agains, Turkey was
inevitable, but the censorship. which is
constantly becoming NOR. strict, has not
permitted any forecasts TO leave the
country. The restrictions placed on the
foreign correspondents We're somewhat
lessened to-day. and II may now be said
that the primary cause of ltalys action
was the long standing defiance OF this
Government by Turkey in Tripoli.
1t is definitely charged by the Gov
evnment that Turkish military activities
in Tripoll have constantly increased dur
ing recent months until only one con-
clusion could he drawn: namely. that
Turkey was seeking a war with Italy.
The rebels IN Lihya have been led by
Turkish military officers. and even since
the departure from Trpoli Of Enver
Boy and AziZ Bcy, at the demand OF
Italy, more than 100 Turkish officers
have remained in the country doing their
utmost TO incite the rebels.
Last April. 1t is charged Enver Pasha.
the Turkish Minister of War. sent thirty
Ave natives Of Tripoli. who had been
( trained in military school at Con-
( stantinople, to Iibya. The rebels under
/ Turkish leadership captured Euronte.
Turkey continued throughout to give
no heed whatever to the Italian protests,
and as further aRgrayation prohibited
the departure Of Italian citizens from
/ Asia Minor. II was because OF this
! prohibition that Italy on August sent
an ultimatum to Turkey demanding the
| release of all Italian citizens in Turkish
posse ssions and stipulated that the local
authorities AT Bsyrut. smyrna. Alex
andretta. Hafa and Jaffa should facil-
! itate their departure.
| Two days later ON August !. Turkey
acceded to the Italian demands This
was two days before the Italian ulti-
matum would have expired. Tn. Italian
| Government straightway sent Italian
steamships to Rhodes to take Italian
citizens from Asia Minor. and the Amer
| lean Consul WIS entrusted with the pro-
lection of Italian interests. On August
.. however, it was reported that Turkey
| lad refused To permit Italian citizen
to leave the country and had instructed
! the military authorities in ports in
| Asia Minor to see to il that no de-
partureS occurred.
| This action on the part OF Turkey
was the last OF many dctiances Of Italian
rights and led directly to the declara-
tion OF war.
! fairs Is known to have been received by
Pope Benedict with greater concern thar
anything that has happened since Italy
Geclared war on Austria. II Is learned
| on excellent authority that he now des
rairs utterly OF being able to haster
peace II has been learned at the Nati
can, THE SUN's correspondent is able Il
saw, that nothing short of a miracle viii
now prevent the war from extending Il
many neutral countries. A rupture o
German American relations Is considered
inevitable The Germans openly charge
America with aiding the Allies, and arr
ready, II is said, to fight the Unite,
states II that country resorts to re
rrisals,
It is generally felt here that the Ger
mans greatly underestimate the posi-
hility Of Balkan Intervention because
of their victories in Russia