It was a closely reasoned argument that the Italian statesmen presented, but there was something more than reasoned argument in Italy’s course.  She had been waiting for years for the opportunity to bring under her flag the men of her own race still held in subjection by hated Austria.  Now was the time or never.  Her people had become roused.  Mobs filled the streets.  Great orators, even the great poet, D’Annunzio, proclaimed a holy war.  The sinking of the Lusitania poured oil on the flames, and the treatment of Belgium and eastern France added to the fury.

[Illustration:  Photo by International Film Service.

TRANSPORTING WOUNDED AMID THE DIFFICULTIES OF THE ITALIAN MOUNTAIN FRONT

The isolated mountain positions were only accessible to the bases of operations by these aerial cable cars.  This picture, taken during the Austrian retreat, shows a wounded soldier being taken down the mountain by this means.]

Italian statesmen, even if they had so desired, could not have withstood the pressure.  It was a crusade for Italia Irredenta, for civilization, for humanity.  The country had been flooded by representatives of German propaganda, papers had been hired and, by all report, money in large amounts distributed.  But every German effort was swept away in the flood of feeling.  It was the people’s war.

Amid tremendous enthusiasm the Chamber of Deputies adopted by vote of 407 to 74 the bill conferring upon the government full power to make war.  All members of the Cabinet maintained absolute silence regarding what step should follow the action of the chamber.  When the chamber reassembled on May 20th, after its long recess, there were present 482 Deputies out of 500, the absentees remaining away on account of illness.  The Deputies especially applauded were those who wore military uniforms and who had asked permission for leave from their military duties to be present at the sitting.  All the tribunes were filled to overflowing.  No representatives of Germany, Austria or Turkey were to be seen in the diplomatic tribune.  The first envoy to arrive was Thomas Nelson Page, the American Ambassador, who was accompanied by his staff.  M. Barrere, Sir J. Bennell Rodd, and Michel de Giers, the French, British and Russian Ambassadors, respectively, appeared a few minutes later and all were greeted with applause, which was shared by the Belgian, Greek and Roumanian ministers.  George B. McClellan, one-time mayor of New York, occupied a seat in the President’s tribune.

A few minutes before the session began the poet, Gabrielle D’Annunzio, one of the strongest advocates of war, appeared in the rear of the public tribune which was so crowded that it seemed impossible to squeeze in anybody else.  But the moment the people saw him they lifted him shoulder high and passed him over their heads to the first row.