ITALY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144708, 17 June 1915, Page 7

ITALY.

VIENNA THE OBJECTIVE. General Pistols, for many years attached to the General Headquarters Stall, who made a special study of tho Austrian fortification, .-dong the Alpine frontiers, and is now ;v inemlier of tho Chamber of Deputies, recently granted an interview to the Giomalo d’llalia of Rome, which is considered of special importance, inasmuch as it practically explains the'military plans of Italy’s invasion of Austria. The General worded Ids interview very carefully, hut he dropped sufficiently broad hints to explain that in case of war with Austria Italy's aim is to occupy Vienna, and not Trent or Trieste, tho two. “lost provinces.” which will he surrendered wlien peace is made. Ho says:— “Wo aro admirably protected against Austria hy a formidable Alpine barrier, which is practically impregnable when covered with snow during winter. Italy was therefore sufficiently defender! against offensive actions by Austria during tho last months, and tills was admitted hy tho AI in is ter for War, General Zupelli, when he explained in Parliament that there was no necessity to call out for training all tho complementary officers, since there was no danger of war in winter. AN OPPORTUNE MOMENT. “Of course, what was necessary was to show that wo were quite prepared and ready for war, since absolute neutrality is an impossibility for Italy, and this explains why tho nation lias been armed and kept ready to intervene at the opportune moment. All of the money spent in war preparations has been well spent, and now wo are quite ready, but our army is scattered throughout Italy, and in case of intervention it will take about a fortnight to concentrate it along tho eastern frontier. “Italy should have mobilised her array and concentrated it against Austria when war broke out. Fertunaloly, this was not done, and it proved to bo a profitable mistake, since a great deal of money has been saved, and our Goldiers have been spared the inevitable hardships ot spending a winter in idleness in an Alpine region. Tho fact that mobilisation was not ordered at once enabled tho Government to complete tho necessary preparations for war, and this undoubtedly has been a great advantage. “Wo were lucky that nothing happened, and that wo gained over six months. Now, however, that winter is practically over, and events aro rapidly developing, mobilisation is indispensable. Wo must consider tho situation of tho central empires, our future enemies. Their troops are lining two battle fronts more than 1000 miles long, and are all bnt exhausted after such a long, hard war. TEN DAYS’ MARCH FROM VIENNA. ‘'Austria has her army widely scattered, and her western frontier, about ten days’ march from Vienna, is practically unguarded. If wo have a million first lino troops concentrated in tho province of Venice along the Austrian frontier, a couple of hundred miles from Vienna, our position will be most advantageous. “It is practically impossible for the 'Austrians to invade Italy through Trent or Switzerland, either now or during our mobilisation. Onr frontiers around Trent are sufficiently defended and guarded by troops, and our fortifications aro strong enough to resist invasion. Wo are convinced that Austria will never attempt to violate Switzerland’s neutrality, since that country will defend herself quite well, and, of course, wo need not defend our Swiss frontiers, the more so as if we concentrated troops, there wo might bo accused of threatening to violate Switzerland’s neutrality ourselves,” The frontier between Italy and Austria from tho Stelvio Pass in southern Tyrol around Trent to Lake Garda and np again across the Dolomites, the Carnic, and tho Julian Alps, down to the Adriatic is, roughly, .100 miles long, and it is strongly fortified on both sides, more so, perhaps, on Austria’s side, with permanent works on all strategical points, and along all tho military roads and passes. Owing to tho mountainous character of all this frontier lino, with tho single exception of about 30 miles near tho coast, it is obvious that any attempt at invasion on tho part of Italy across the Alpine passes would prove extremely difficult. Since neither Austria nor Italy will attempt to violate Switzerland’s neutrality, it follows that the only way open is that near tho Adriatic coast, the plain of the Isonzo, between Gradisca and Aqulleia, the more so as tho distance in a straight lino between Gocrz and Vienna is exactly 200 miles, or ten days’ easy march, if no railway l communications are available.