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Show ITALY DECLARES WAR ON GERMANY CHEERING CROWDS PARADE THE STREETS OF ROME APPLAUDING ACTION OF GOVERNMENT Action Forced by Landing of Troops at Saloniki to Co-operate in the Campaign on the Macedonian Front. Rome. Italy has formally declared war on Germany, the official declaration declara-tion having been made August 28. The official announcement of a state of war between Italy and Germany has aroused great enthusiasm here. Cheering Cheer-ing crowds paraded the streets, applauding the government's decision. The official announcement of Italy's declaration of war on Germany follows: fol-lows: "The Italian government declares, in the name of the king, that Italy considers herself to be in a state of war with Germany as from August 28, and begs the Swiss government to convey this information to the imperial imper-ial German government." Italy and Germany have been drifting drift-ing steadily toward war. The declaration decla-ration became inevitable when Italy recently sent troops to Saloniki to cooperate co-operate in the campaign of the entente en-tente allies on the Macedonian front, as Germany is directing the opposing forces and has troops on this battle lane. Italy's position in regard to Germany Ger-many has been an anomalous one since Italy withdrew from the triple alliance May 23 of last year and declared de-clared war on Austria. Although by this act she arrayed herself against her former allies, Germany and Austria, Aus-tria, she remained officially at peace with Germany until Saturday. Before Be-fore Italy took this step Germany exerted ex-erted every effort to induce her to remain neutral, sending to Rome as an ambassador Prince von Buelow. The price for some time averted war between Austria and Italy, and when he saw a rupture was Inevitable took steps toward preservation of an official offi-cial peace between Germany and Italy. He negotiated a special agreement under un-der which, in case of war between Austria and Italy, Germany and Italy pledged themselves to respect the properties and lives of their respective respec-tive subjects in each other's domains. According to unofficial reports Italy's allies were dissatisfied and at the Paris council of entente powers in February last asked the Italian representatives rep-resentatives why their nation was not at war with Germany. Italy already had agred not to conclude a separate peace, and at the Paris conference sanctioned the plan for a permanent high council of the entente powers for future conduct of the war. The Increasing co-operation among the entente en-tente allies and the necessity for bringing into service Italy's surplus of troops, gradually brought Italy into such a position that it became evident a declaration of hostilities against Germany was certain. Italy's action probably will have little lit-tle effect in the military situation in the immediate future, although as the war goes on it may have a more important im-portant bearing. On the Austro-Ital-ian front Italy finds active use for hardly more than half her army, and in future can send available troops to any front. Having committeed herself her-self already to the Macedonian campaign cam-paign Italy's step is of no significance as respects that theatre of war. |