THE ANGLO-ITALIAN UNDERSTANDING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7341, 30 May 1885, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE ANGLO-ITALIAN UNDERSTANDING.

The following extracts from leading Italian journals explain the joint action of England and Italy on the Red 3ea littoral indicated by recent London telegrams, besidea giving expression to sentiments alike honourable to Italy and England :— The Opinione says :—" While the news of the fall of Khartoum was heard with dismay in all civilised countries, in Italy especially it aroused a sorrowful echo. We profoundly love and esteem the great and free English people, who have been tha school and example by which our greatest statesmen nave been fcrmed, and we are accustomed to look upon Eug'and as a bright beacon of human liberty and of wisdom in the governing of peoples. Her glories and her troubles touch us nearly, and no nation in Kuivpe participates more than the Italian in che feeling of consternation which now agitates tbe strong and sterling patriotism of England. A hero like Gordon who, after a sublime resistance, falls at the moment when tardy help finally reaches him; an expedition which, for its courage and the rapidity of its marches, recalls some of the most celebrated of antiquity, seeing success change into disaster at the moment it was reaching the goal; the pride and affection of England, her two predominant feelings, offended and severely tried at the same time—these things make a very solemn and tragic moment. But it is not that England, powerful and trained to turn even her misfortunes to account, will not rise at the rebound; those modern Komans, equally with ancient, whenever their legions are defeated, renew them; as Casar taught, magnd festinatione. There can be no doubt England will succeed in dominating adrorsity and in turning it in her favour, u all her history tcaohes." The Esoroito Italiano aaye :—" The battle of Abu Klea, which resulted in suoh severe loss to General Stewart's column, has shown that the English soldier has in no way degenerated, and that he does not stop to oount the number of the enemy when the hour for' battle has struck. We cannot bat experience a sense of wonder when we consider the coolness with which General Stewart's square moved against an enemy ten times its number, in an inhospitable country, with the natives in full revolt, and in a climate so different from their own—so enervating and deadly. The effect of the intrepidity of the Knglieh soldiers upon the mass of Arabs must have been immense. The smallness of the numbers of the soldiers whom ' Old England' sends to all parts of the globe to fight battles that would bring glory to armies of great size and more formidably oquipped in point of armament, cannot be ewing to petty economy, as some German military periodicals wouli have us think. We believe, rather, that it is due to the absolute reliance which the English Minister of War feels he can place in his soldiers—a reliance which the memory of the siege of Delhi during the Indian Mutiny fully explains. This confidence is brilliantly displayed in the self-abnegation with whioh even the heirs of the most illustrious men of the United Kingdom go forth and face the extraordinary difficulties attaohing to war in countries such as Egypt, ready to lay down their lives for the rights of their country, . . . We see that even a small army under commanders* well trained in the art of war, am! who are determined to conquer or die, may, when called upon, rout an adversary much superior in numbers : as the English army has shown in all the wars fought by it during this century in Europe, in Asia, and at the two extremities of the African continent."

The Diritto concludes a leading article on Italy's action in the following terms :—"As the support of the central Powers, without modifying our internal liberties, has guaranteed to us peace on the European Continent, a peace which nobody has desired more than ourselves- to regain our financial and military prosperity, so likewise a complete understanding with. England ha« afforded us • the great advantage of being able to protest our interests in that part of Africa, and, as General Ricootti opportunely remarked, the knowledge that we possessed, and were in a position to exchange, friendship with the most powerful nation on the seas, Unquestionably this friendship is mutual. It is based on sympathies and interests; on the similarity of Constitutions and political liberties ; on the common character of the two peoples, who, by their geographical positions, are both navigators. We never forgot the help EogUnd afforded to us in 1860. To-day an understanding with that country will prove even more beneficial to us. As for England, she will justly appreciate what it fa to rely en Italy J aliiiMscfl by hrA ,iuj4 sou." V ■*„:■' TheFanfulSa staiidß tha'i Italy cov.ic not express herself more aobly or more worthily than in . the following —" We were on the march to Africa by a route which was believed to have been opened by England, but an obstacle has arisen. We will not wait for England to ask for our help, but will give her assistance without bargaining. We do not wish that any hesitation on our part should appear as a ■peculation. It is said we are Maobiavelian, but this is a way of being so nobly." ' ' The Ri forma says :—" England has always been our friend and has always rendered us great eerviaes. Without her the events of 1860 would not have resulted so happily. She never asked us for a man or a sou. Such benefits ought never to be forgotten, Italy can do so still because in uniting herself with England she not only acts in accordance with her duty, but also with her interests." 1 V^" The Libert states that at a Cabinet Council under the presidency' of the • Kiog, ■it was decided that if England asked for' Italy's co-operation in the military operations in Egypt, it should be afforded from a feeling of loyal friendship, without raising any question of territorial compensation. ,-,