Meanwhile, the staffs of all publications, from editors to
compositors, have felt the weight of conscription--sacrifices they
enthusiastically make for the common cause. Their pages may be fewer
and some favorite contributors may be heard of no more, but they are
sure that the public will bear with them. On the other hand, a new
periodical has sprung into existence called La Guerra d'Italia nel
1915--The Italian War of 1915--the first number of which has just come
to hand. Its introduction accompanied with several well-made portraits
constructs the basis of Italy's action--how Italy having been tricked
through a fancied fear of France and the apparent unresponsiveness of
England into entering the Triple Alliance in 1882, had been forced to
remain there, possibly protected thereby from actual Austrian
aggression, but ever a prey to German exploitation. Then comes an
analysis of the Italo-Austrian negotiations, conducted directly and
through Prince von Buelow, the Special German Ambassador in Rome,
showing why these negotiations could not possibly have succeeded. Like
the Government itself the new periodical is in no haste to describe
military operations.

The first review to devote almost its entire space to the war was La
Vita Internazionale of Milan. The opening article is by the well-known
publicist E.T. Moneta. He begins:

Without boast but with self-esteem secure, Italy has taken
her place in the combat among the nations which for ten
months have been fighting for the liberty of the people and
the cause of civilization. The enthusiasm with which this
announcement has been received in France, Russia, and
England, and especially in martyred Belgium, is enormous.
For they have all understood what decisive effect our army
would produce on the destiny of the Great War.

The fighters for liberty and civilization who have always
hoped for an ultimate victory, today feel the certainty of
that hope, and that the duration of the war with the loss of
millions of other lives will be shortened. For this reason,
from those governments and people, from their parliaments
and from their press, from workingmen's societies and from
institutions of learning there have come to our country warm
words of admiration and of social unity. All these things
form an added inspiration for us to do our best to hasten
the end of this slaughter of men.