The Star. Delivered every evening by 5 o'clock in Hawera, Manaia, Normanby, Okaiawa, Eltham, Mangatoki, Kaponga, Awa-, tuna, Opunake, Otaketio, Manutahi, Alton, Hurleyville. Patea. Waverley. ITALY AND THE WAR.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXIX, Issue LXIX, 22 May 1915, Page 4

The Star. Delivered every evening by 5 o'clock in Hawera, Manaia, Normanby, Okaiawa, Eltham, Mangatoki, Kaponga, Awa-, tuna, Opunake, Otaketio, Manutahi, Alton, Hurleyville. Patea. Waverley. ITALY AND THE WAR.

Italy has at last declared war, and now takes sides, with? the Allies against Germany and Austria. Her quarrel is specifically with Austria, jut this does not affect the essential 'act that she is in the field as much against Germany as against that country—her ciuel oppressor for many generations, as well as her present direct antagonist. The action she has now token has heen practically certain .from the first, though it is due to Italian statesmen to acknowledge that they have done their utmost to secure their country's rights without actually entering the arena of the strife. The people, however, have from the .first been in favor of fighting as the only of securing the nation's interests, though, on grounds of policy, the King and the Government have steadily hesitated to leave the by-ways of diplomacy for the highway of war. They have kept on cherishing a hope to be1 able to gain territorial and other advantages without actual fighting, and then, at first at anjp' rate, the country was not effectively 'ready, to enier-*eiß :i.^.i.'<j3J^aj^Vv:i';'^*fe?ly«^vho.wey(3r,:. th? public feeling has, steadily increased in its scope and intensity, especially since the country's military position has been effectively strengthened. This Reeling has' also been ■ cxV pressed in the Chanibef. of DejmtW and in the public press, and now, the Government haying, done its utmost to secure the country's claims without war, is forced to feel with the people, that it is the only means to that end, and has accordingly declared it, having in fact first received a mandate from Parliament so to do, and being specially authorised by way of endorsement of Parliament in the form of votes to meet the emergency and maintain a campaign. Fortunately the Government has long been preparing for the worst, even while sincerely endeavoring to avert it, and over one million of .men have been mobilised, and a squadron of five Dreadnoughts, under the JT>uke of the Abruzzi, has been added to the effective fleet. Transport arrangements for the conveyance of troops to the Austro-Italian frontier have fo> some time been complete, and all this readiness justifies the hope that Italy will prove no ineffective co-fighter wivh the Allies against the world's archenemies—Germany and Austria. From the point of view of the Allies, the entrance of Italy into the arena is an event of first rate importance. It means that all Europe is now ranged against Germany and Austria, and the moral effect in the Balkans and il>e depressing influence on Turkey must be of immense assistance to the Allies. Moreover, the care of the Mediterranean can now be left to Italy, and further French naval force will be available at the Dardanelles. Kaiser William will soon be feeling that in 1914 he made the same mistake in rousing Europe as Napoleon did in 1814, and surely must by this time see that the result will be similar.