The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-05-25
ITALY DECLARES WAR.

Chicago Herald: Yesterday lCaly
made the momentous decision OF war
with Austria. And this decision Is
plainly that OF practically the whole
people. Here at least is no case OF
a nation being plunged into war by
the acts of rulers before the people
have chance to understand the siuta-
ton. The Italians have had nearly
ten months to observe, reflect and de-
eide. They have had the horrible
echoes from across the Alps to teach
them what war means to nation.
And the nation is entering 1t with its
eyes wide open-after the fullest OPP
portunity for expressing its Will.
We have already had from Italian
sources the logic that led Italy to cast
her sword into the scale with the al
lies. Italy declined to join Germany
and Austria on the ground that the
triple alliance was defensive and the
Austrian move against Serbia, which
precipftated all the trouble, was es-
sentially offensive. That move also
violated the principle of the triple al
lance by imperiling the balance OF
power which the triple alliance was
formed to insure. 1t thus caused
italy to run a great risk without any
COMPENSATION corresponding to that
which Austria was seeking in the ex-
tension OF her influence over Serbia.
Austria having thus shown a dispo-
sition to look principally after her
self. Italy decided to follow suit. She
began by asking compensation from
Austria in the form of territories long
objects Of the national ambition. The
Austrian offers OF satisfaction were
called "contemptible" by Premier
Salandra. Il appeared evident to Rome
that Vienna could not be persuaded
to 20 the length desired. The Italian
government. therefore. in spite Of the
energetic and able efforts of Prince
Won Brlow in behalf OF peace, de-
nounced the treaty and determined
to Join the allies as the only practical
method Of realizing the national am
| billions
| The logic Of this decision was no
| doubt powerfully REINFORCED by the
thought Of Italy's isolated position
after the war in the event of Austrian
concessions The proba were
that these forced concessions would
rankle and that Austria would seize
the first favora BILE occasion to try to
retake them from Italy by force. In
this she would have the sympathy,
possibly the aid. of Germany. Under
such circumstances Italy could look
; nowhere for support The allies would
hardly be inclined to help one who
,, had been deaf to their appeals at a
critical period in their own fortunes.
1t was probably further strengthen
ed by the wider outlook for Italian
ambition and influence which cooper
( alton with the allies in a victorious
l war would insure. She would not
: only probably secure all she had de
Il handed OF Austria on the ground Of
o realizing Italian unity and insurine
the safety Of the peninsula. She
r would also have share in the settle
/, ment of the Turkish question-in the
l. division OF territory certain to follow
. victory. She would also estab Iish he,
!, position more firmly in Africa as q
l. colonial power She might possibI,
= get certain concessions from botf
e France and England in that quarter.
o This course will no doubt strik.
= many as a plain attempt to SEIZE ;
s favorable chance regardless of an,
d other consideration. They will no
. find in the Italian logic the iustiica
J. ton of such a complete break witt
r her former allies and such wideninj