The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-02-09
BRAND GOES 70 ITAlI
TO Plan BIG THINGS
Frrucn rrcsalrr fsmrsxes - the One
Real BIG siasn OF The Allies
PLANS NC srnIse CAMPAIGN
Would strike Blow Fsom saioniki and
seck, FnIsess Co-operstsen Of Home
In Great Esrcrt In tile IsaikAszs.
nv q. r. BERTEL11.

Paris. Feb s.---The most Important
Diplomatic development In the allies
camp since the beginning OF the new
year Is Premier Aristide BRANDS de-
parture for italy tomorrow. The frau
little man. whose marvellous per-
suasive eIoqnence san calm the
storsniest scene In tho Chamber Of
Deputies In two-minute speech, now
energies definitely as the most pur-
poseful statesman among all the gov
ernments opposed to- the central
powers.
Premier Asquith may possess a
xeener perception of Europe.s con-
dition after the war and q deeper
sense of the need OF preparing the
way for its regeneration. Premier
Saiandra may DO political strategist
of a higher order But BRAND il
the most dominating personality OF
the moment and he Ia the only man
in the French. British and Italian
gnxernnlenfs who has shown strong
powers of initiative.
The British ana Italian governments
facility admitted his ascondancy In
this respect with tho consequence
that the political direction Of the war
the allies viii wage this year has
fallen definitely into brands hands.
Insisted On Holding Saionikf.
should remain at Saloniki. He had To
overcome intense opposition TO that
policy. not only In France itself. but
also from rhe British government.
which was influenced by Lord Kitch-
ener's report and by the total alb
sence 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
brilliantly upset the Kaisers plan to
seize the port of Saloniki and use
1t for formidable submarine base,
1t 10 In pursuance OF his Saloniki
policy that M. BRAND goes to Italy
tomorrow. He will confer with the
italian 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 car
give In striking the foe from Salonikl
next spring.
Although the anti-war party head
ed by Gioiitti Is still fairly strong In
italy. the country liz In mood fol
greater sacrifices now that the con
quest OF Serbia. Montenegro and
Northern Albania by her enemies
demands that, italy throw all her re
sources into the war in order to wiz
complete control of the Adriattc OF
| both the eastern and western shores
/ Italy's cooperation at saioniki
says tho Matin. win certainly meaI
that italy will get bigger compensa
ton than. was originally looked for
This means Italian control OF Albania
! VI BRAND embarks for the accom-
4 pIishrhent of his greatest dip1omati
! triumph with q degree OF prestige IA
+; superior to that of any other Euro
4 pesn statesman.
i His persistent struggle to get tn
allies 10 act as enc. both militaril
land automatically, and HIS continue
4 battles in the chamber with the Par
+ ish-urup politicians Of France, hav
3 aged. him notably. The bushy. Goa
black hair of Frances uuondam re-
hot Socialist IL fsecked with gray. blu
his temper remains unruffiec.
i The quiet persuasiveness of hi
golden voice has lost none or its fore
1 and charm. The man who brok
the great French railway strike wit
I ore hiow. who placed Poincare In tn
presidential chair, and who has dem
oiastrated to the allies the need o
4 acting uuttetiv, fs expected to WI
Italy this week. triumph that ma
\ result in the allies gaining ffna
victory before next winter.