“1.  The necessity for Italy to take advantage of the present revolution in European affairs to settle her national irredentist problem at the expense of Austria.  Our right to the Trentino, Trieste and Istria, now held by Austria, is not questioned by reasonable people anywhere in Europe.

“2.  The necessity for Italy to arrive at a secure and definite settlement of her military frontiers on the north and east.

“3.  The necessity for Italy to create for herself by her intervention a new moral and political position in the new European order of the future, to replace that which she had, thanks to her alliance with the central empires, a position which was liquidated at the outbreak of the war.

“4.  The necessity for Italy to contribute to repelling the danger of a German hegemony which would flourish at the expense of the various individual cultures and civilizations.”

INVASION OF AUSTRIA

Italy promptly threw an army across the Austrian frontier and began active operations in the direction of Trent and Trieste.  The fortified city of Luzerne soon fell into Italian hands and continued successes marked the progress of the invaders all through the month of June.  The Austrian strategy at first appeared to provide for a series of withdrawals after skirmishing; but late in the month a more determined resistance developed, the defenses of the Austrian troops being skilfully prepared.  The loss of life during the month was comparatively light on both sides, but on June 26 the Italians—­already masters of Plava on the left bank of the Isonzo river, and the heights dominating that town—­were massing heavy bodies of troops before Gorizia and Tolmino for crucial battles at those two points, both of which blocked the way to the coveted Austrian seaport of Trieste.

STRUGGLE FOR THE DARDANELLES

All through the month of June the Allies continued their desperate struggle for the possession of the Dardanelles, the gateway to Constantinople.  Under the direction of German officers and engineers, the Turkish troops and gunners offered determined resistance and the British, Colonial and French troops co-operating with the allied fleets, gained headway but slowly and at tremendous cost.  But it was declared that the Allies were bent upon forcing a passage through the straits regardless of cost and that every effort would be made to complete the operation during the summer.  Several German submarines appeared in the Gulf of Saros during the month and effectively interfered with the activity of the British and French fleets.  The results of the operations on the Gallipoli peninsula during the month indicated that the Dardanelles would prove a veritable slaughter pen before the Allies succeeded in winning their way to Stamboul.

LEMBERG IS RECAPTURED