The Times has been publishing some extremely interesting articles on
the military achievements of Italy, about which we have heard far too little. The writer says that the Italians might have inflicted an immediate and irreparable disaster on the Austrians had not the declaration of war been delayed by the political intrigues of Signor Giolitti. As soon as Signor Salandre had exposed the object of Signor Giolitti's manoeuvres—to come to terms with Italy's traditional enemy---the country turned furiously; against the Giolittian party and all its works. . Above all, the middle classes proved their nobility by staunchly pre- ferring an inspiring cause to mere business interests. But in the meantime valuable days had been lost. : Between. May 4th and May 23rd Austria had poured on to. the Italian front every man she could spare. Cemented trenches,. gun emplacements, and strategic roads had long been ready, but the men had been wanting. By May 23rd, however, more than three hundred thousand. Austrians had been placed in position. They were mostly Tyrolese and Hungarian Territorial troops.
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