The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-07-23
AMERICAN NOTE DELIVERED TODAY
|TA[ !

limited Press Leased Wire Service.
ROME, July 23.-ln the face of d
murderous fire, a small Italian detach
ment forced a crossing Of the Isonzc
three mlles above GorItz last night
and dug themselves In at tho western
base Of Monte Santo. Latest dis.
patches today said they wore main
taInlna their position despite heavy
attacks on all sides and were block
Ing tho transport Of munitions to tho
Austrlans' fighting around PLAYA.
Tho daring coup Of this small body
Of men 10 ono Of the notable exploits
Of tho heavy fighting now proceeding
around Gorltz. Though tho Italians
must Inevitably either retire or face
annIhllatIon, every hour they with
stand tho Austrian attacks aids tho
Italians In their onsIaushts against
the northern defenses Of Goritz.
The bersaeIIerI crossed the river In
scows and on pontoons. They had
reached the eastern bank Of the
lsonzo before they were discovered.
searchIIahts on Monte santo were
played upon them, but before tho
enemy artillery could sweep their
ranks effectively the Italians drove
crets trenches on tho high road at
positions.
A similar though less daring exploit,
was performed by italian troops oper-
atIng against ToImIno. BY surprise
attack they crossed the lsonzo and
captured trenches held by tho Aus
trIans opposite SeIla Soto.
~k- A@AA Ia
dicated that a violent battle ls pro-
ceedIng west Of GorItz where General
Cadorna Is directing heavy attack
against the Austrian bridge heads.
THE NEUTRALITY OF THE POPE.
[By Alice Robe, United Press Staff
Correspondent
ROME, July 23.-Itaiy will not
agree TO the selection Of Pope Bene.
dict - member OF the peace seoun.
Gil at the end Of the European war, II
was reliably stated here, despite tho
fact that the pope wants to be pres.
ent on that happy day.
A combination Of other nations In
favor Of the pontiff may force his
selection over the objections Of his
native country.
But there is no Disgusting the fact
that recent published interviews with
his holiness, particularly the one In
which he wac quoted as assaIlIng the
italian government, have made him
undesirable In the minds Of Italian
Officials az member Of the peace
board.
This particular Interview, the one
granted M. Lapatle Of tho Paris Lib
erte was part Of tho vatlcan's plan to
place itself before the world as being
un-ItaIfan and strictly neutral.
The pope's reputation Of the Inter-
View In letter to Cardinal Annette,
made public at Paris, has not changed
the situation in the slightest. M. La
patie is an excellent Catholic, repre-
sentlng great Catholic organ In
France, and the fact remains that he
secured the Interview through Cath
oIic channels and that the entire af-
fair was vatican plan.
Until Italy went to war, the pope
had high hopes that he might bring
shout peace In Europe. It was with
:hese hopes In view that he opposed
10 the very last tho entrance Of Italy
nto the conflict. II Italy remained
Neutral, the spope, being an italian,
night be considered neutral. But with
his blood kin in the war, It was neces-
'ary for the pope to take such steps
as he took In the interview given to
-apatie to prove his lack Of sympa-
hy with the Italian government. His
population of Italy was meant to
prove the utter neutrality Of the vati-
ian.
incidentally, If the pope Is selected
IN the peace board over ItaIy's pro-
ests, the peace councils will be held
n the vatican