The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1916-09-22

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The official announcement of a state
OF wal between Italy and Germany
aroused great enthusiasm. Cheering
crowds paraded the streets, applaud
ing the governments decision.
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.
AZ Peace With Germany Until AUG. %,
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
fcially at peace with Germany until
Aug. 2S. Germany exerted every ef-
fort TO induce her to remain neutral,
sending to Rome as ambassador Prince
Won Buelow, n of the ablest states
men of Germany.
The prince for some time averted
the war between Austria and Italy. and
when he saw a rupture was inevitable
ne negotiated a special agreement I'M
der which, in case Of wal 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 a guarantee ,of
many millions of dollars worth of
properties in Italy and for Italy the
safety OF 10000 Italian subjects In
Germany.
Report itaIy's Allies Dissatisfied,
According to unofficial reports,
ltaly's allies were dissatisfied and
asked the Italian representatives at
the Paris entente conference why their
nation was not at wal with Germany.
Italy already had agreed not to con-
clude a 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 amonR 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
1t became evident u 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.
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
Can Send Available Troops To 'FRONT.'
ltaly's action probably will have lit
tie effect on the military situation in
the immediate future, although as the
wal goes on 1t may have a more i'm
portant bearing. On the Austro-Italian
front, Italy finds active use for hardly
more than hall. her army and in future
can send available troops to any front.
committed herself already To
Macedonian campaign, ItaIy's step
Is OF no significance as respects that
tneater OF war. Germany hereafter
VIII be free to take such part in the
Austro-ltalian campaign as may be do.
cided on BY the Teutonic allies,