The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-02-10
BRANDS Greatest Triumph if
He Succeeds at Rome.
ITALY ANTI-WAR PARTY STRONG
Will Nation Cast Lot Unflinch-
:. ingIy Into Conquest!
Mission Most Important DiplO-
matte Move of Year.
BY c. Il. BERTELLI.

Paris Feb. 10.-The most impor-
tant diplomatic developments in the
allies camp since the beginning of
the new year is Premier Aristide
Brands departure for Italy yester-
day. The frail little man whose per-
suasive eloquence can calm the storm
lest scene in the chamber of deputies
in a 2-minute speech, now energies
definitely as the most purpoSeful
statesman among all the governments
opposed to the central empires.
-tfPremier Asquith may possess
1seener perception of Europe's cOndi
ton after the war and a deeper sense
of the need of preparing the way for
its regeneration. Premier Salandra
may be a political strategist of high
ier order. But BRAND is the most DOM
mating personality of the moment and
he is the only man in the French.
British and Italian governments who
'has shown strong powers of initiative.
The British and Italian governments
have tacitly admitted his aScendancy
in this respect with the consequence
that the political direction of the war
the allies will wage this year has fall
en- definitely into Brands hands.
81 lie Planned SaIoniki Coup.
Alone he insisted that the allies
should remain at Saloniki. He ha1
to overcome intense opposition to that
policy, not only in France itself, but
also from the British government
which was influenced by Lord Kitche-
ner's report and by the total absence
s. of any definite promise of help from
Italy.
NJ. BRAND won out and France.
England and Italy now admit he was
right and that Egypt and the road to
the east can best be protected from
Salonik. It is now seen, too, that he
brilliantly upset the kaiser's plan to
seize the port of Saloniki and use it
for formidable submarine base.
It is in pursuance of his SalOnfki
policy that NJ BRAND goes to Italy to-
morrow. He will confer with the Ital-
ian government at Rome and then
with the king and the general staff at
the front. The best informed Paris
opinion is that he will return with
clear and definite assurances of the
most useful cooperation Italy can
give in striking the foe from Saloniki
next spring.
For Adriatic Control
Although the anti-war party headed
BY Giolitti is still fairly strong in Italy.
The country is in mood for greater
-sacrifices now that the conquest of
Serbia. Montenegro and Northern AL
bania by her enemies demands that
Italy throw all her resources into the
war in order to win complete control
Of the Adriatic on both the eastern
and western shores.
Italy's cooperation at Salonil1i, SAYS
the Matin, Will certainly mean that
Italy will get bigger compensation than
was originally looked for. This means
Italian control of Albania.
o. NJ. BRAND EN- barks for the accom-
plishment of his greatest diplomatic
triumph with a degree of prestige far
superior to that of any other European
statesman.
His persistent struggle to get the
allies to act as one, both military and
automatically. and his continued bat
ties in the chamber with the parish
pump politicians" of France, have
aged him noticably. The bushy, coal
hlack hai- of Frances quondam red
hot socialist is flecked with gray, but
his temper remains unruffled
.-f. Put Poincare in Chair
r.u The quiet responsiveness of his
golden voice has lost none of its force
and charm. The man who broke the
great French railway strike with one
blow, who placed Poincare in the
presidential chair and who has demon
strated to the allies the need of acting
unitedly. is expected to win Italy this
week-a triumph which may result in
the allies gaining final victory before
next winter.