Germany, maintaining that she had been attacked by France, called upon Italy to come to her aid. Italy, however, took the view that both Germany and Austria were carrying on a war of aggression rather than defense, and therefore re fused to come to their assistance. Addi tional difficulties were created by the fact that the chief financial and indus trial concerns of Italy were either in the hands of Germans er controlled bY German capital. In spite of these con ditions, pro-ally sentiment continued to develop among the Italian people and this, despite the aggressive efforts of Germany, through Prince von Billow, as special ambassaflor to Italy. In order to avert an open rupture, if possible, negotiations were carried on between Italy and Austria-Hungary with the ob ject of inducing Austria to make such territorial concessions to Italy that the latter would find it unnecessary to go to war for the purpose of achieving terri torial aspirations, which first of all lay in the recovery of the so-called unre deemed provinces held by Austria. These negotiations came to no effect, as Austria refused to make the concessions necessary, and on May 4, 1915, Italy denounced the Triple Alliance, as far as it affected herself and Austria-Hungary. War was officially declared against Aus tria on May 23, 1915, and on the follow ing day active operations began. The course of the war as regards Italy is included in the general narrative in the article WORLD WAR. The campaigns fought were in the most difficult terrain possible. Italian armies fought through 15 furious offensives on the Isonzo and the Piave, inflicting terrible losses on the enemy in each offensive. With the exception of the Great Italian Retreat in the autumn of 1917, and the invasion of the northeast corner of Italy by Aus trian and German forces, Italy suffered no serious reverses. See IsONzo, BAT TLES OF; PIAVE, BATTLES OF. Following the great retreat to the Piave river, the Italian armies under General Diaz re formed and prevented the enemy from crossing the river, except in isolated points. On June 23, they began an offensive along the western bank of the river, and this was continued in a great drive which swept the Austrian troops before them. The movement ended on
July 10th, with nearly 35,000 Austrian prisoners and 300,000 Austrian casual ties. Operations were carried on so aggressively toward Austria during the succeeding months that on Nov. 3 she was willing to sign an armistice, which amounted to unconditional sur render to Italy. In the operations pre ceding this, the Austrian armies had been utterly shattered by 5 Italian divi sions, 3 British, 2 French, one Czecho Slovak, and the 332d American Infantry Regiment.
Italy took a prominent part in the Peace Conference. Her representatives included Vittorio Orlando, Prime Minis ter, and Baron Sonnino, Foreign Min ister. There were vexed problems re lating to Italy to be solved. These were concerned chiefly with the ultimate dis position of Fiume and Dalmatia, both of which were claimed by Italy and Jugo Slavia. Italy claimed that both Fiume and Trieste properly belonged to her. Trieste she received, but Fiume remained the mooted point until November, 1920, when by the so-called Treaty of Rapallo it was agreed between Italy and Jugo Slavia that Dalmatia, with certain re strictions, should go to Jugo-Slavia, while Fiume should become an inde pendent state. Gabriel D'Annunzio, who had taken possession of Fiume with a body of troops, early in 1919, refused to accept the terms of the treaty, and on December 9, declared Fiume an in dependent state, and established a so called "Italian Regency of Quarnero." Forces were sent to compel him to leave the city, and on Dec. 8, following,several sharp engagements in which a consider able number of men were killed on both sides, D'Annunzio ceased resistance and retired from Fiume.
The economic conditions following the peace treaty gave rise to many disturb ances. There were strikes instigated in many cases by radicals throughout the country, in June, 1920. These, however, gradually subsided and comparative economic peace had been reached at the end of the year.