Prince Bismarck's organ, the Hamburger Naehrichten, has rmblished another article
on the Trinle Alliance which declares
that Italy must not be driven out of the pact by attempts to force her to keep up an army that is too large for her resources. Even if Italy insists upon leading a comfortable existence at the cost of the Triple Alliance no objection must be raised. An Italy weak from the military point of view can still render good service in a Triple Alliance. Germany could carry on a war of two fronts (i.e., against France and Russia) provided she can reckon on the support of the whole Austrian Army. But this condition of success would disappear were Austria, "in consequence of the attitude of Italy," obliged to keep half her forces to protect her Italian frontier. Therefore Italy is to be humoured, and everything done to keep her in the Alliance. There must be no using of thumbscrews to force her to increase her military efforts. That is probably sound sense. It contains, however, admissions which will not be lost on our diplomatists. We could at a pinch offer Italy terms which would induce her to leave the Triple Alliance. If Germany presses us too hard in Africa or elsewhere, it may become necessary to offer those terms.
