Dresden enterprise and Sharon tribune. (Dresden, Tenn.) 1907-1997, 1916-09-01


o war on Germany as given out {
o here follows:
o "The Italian government de-
o clares in the name Of the king {
that Italy considers herself to
o be in a state of war with Ger
o many as from Aug. %, and begs
o the Swiss government to convey
o this information to the imperial
o German government"
&C o O o o o o o o o o {
The official announcement of state
of war between Italy and Germany
aroused great enthusiasm. Cheering
crowds paraded the streets, applaud
ing the governments decision.
Diplomatic circles here expect inter
vention in the war by Roumania
against the central empires.
Italy and Germany have been drift.
ing steadily toward war. In fact, Italy's
formal declaration amounts to little
more than official recognition Of a
state of affairs which already existed.
The declaration became inevitable
when Italy recently sent troops to Sa-
loniki to cooperate in the campaign
on the Macedonian front.
Italy's position has been anomalous
since she withdraw from the triple al
lance and declared war on Austria,
Although by this act she arrayed her
self against her former allies, Ger
many and Austria, she remained Of
ficially at peace with Germany until
Aug. %. Germany exerted every ef-
fort to induce her to remain neutral,
sending to Rome as ambassador Prince
Won Buelow, one of the ablest states
men of Germany.
The prince for some time averted
the war between Austria and Italy, and
when he saw rupture was inevitable
he negotiated special agreement I'M
der which, in case of war between Aus
tria and Italy, Germany and Italy
pledged themselves to respect the
properties and lives of their respective
subjects in each others domains. This
meant for Germany guarantee of
many millions of dollars worth of
properties in Italy and for Italy the
safety of 10000 Italian subjects in
Germany.
According to unofficial reports,
Italys allies were dissatisfied and
asked the Italian representatives at
the Paris entente conference why their
nation was not at war with Germany.
Italy already had agreed not to con-
clude separate peace and at the Paris
conference sanctioned the plan for a
permanent high council of the entente
powers for future conduct of the war.
The increasing cooperation among the
entente allies and the necessity for
bringing into service Italy's surplus of
troops, which could not be employed
on the other fronts without. bringing
on war with Germany, gradually
brought Italy into such a position that
It became evident declaration Of hos
tilities against Germany was only a
matter Of time.
The first overt act in this direction
occurred after the Paris conference,
probably as a result of it. On Feb. 20
italy requisitioned "a of the 81 German
steamships interned in Italian ports to
help meet the pressing needs of the
allies for shipping facilities. other in,
dications of approaching war have
been observed In recent weeks, one of
which was the denouncing of the COM
mercial agreement providing for mu-
tual respect Of the rights of each
others subjects. The final step was
the sending of Italian troops to Sa-
loniki.
Although officially at peace, Italy
and Germany severed diplomatic rela-
lions last year. That was why Italy
adopted the unusual procedure of ask
ing Switzerland to inform Germany
Italy's action probably will have lit
tie effect on the military situation in
the immediate future, although as the
war goes on It may have more i'm
portant bearing. On the Austro-Italian
front, Italy finds active use for hardly
more than half her army and in future
can send available troops to any front.
Having committed herself already to
the Macedonian campaign, Italy's step
is Of no significance as respects that
theater of war. Germany hereafter
will be free to take such part in the
Austro-Italian campaign as may be de-
cided on by the Teutonic allies.