Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1916-09-08

o Rome.-The official announce O
o ment Of Italy's declaration of o
o war on Germany as given out o
o here follows: o
o THE Italian government de- o
0 clares In the name Of the king o
0 that Italy considers herself to o
o be in a state OF war with Ger o
o many as from Aug. %, and begs o
o the Swiss government to convey o
o this information to the imperial o
o German government" o
o O o o o o o O C o o o o 0 o o
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. ltaly's
formal declaration amounts to little
more than official recognition Of a
state OF affairs which already existed.
At 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. %. Germany exerted every eff
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 a rupture was inevitable
he negotiated a special agreement un-
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 a guarantee or
many millions OF dollars worth Of
properties in Italy and for Italy the
safety of 10000 Italian subjects In
Germany.
Report ttaiy's Allies Dissatisfied.
According to unofficial reports,
Italy's 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 q 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
1t became evident a 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 1t. On Feb. 20
AhoAy ASquLSAelOlcu o. VI Lu6 81 herman
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 harslv
more than half her army and in future
a send available troops to any front.
Having committed herself already to
the Macedonian campaign, Italy's ster
is OF no significance as respects that
tleater Of war. Germany berea flor
Will be flee to take such part In the
Austroltslian campaign as may be de-
cided on by the Teutonic allies.