[From The London Morning Post, Oct. 28, 1914.]
ROME, Oct. 27.
The dispatch of the battleship Dandolo, the Climene and other Italian
warships to Valona is due to the Government's knowledge of a scheme
for starting an agitation tending to infringe the decision of the
London Conference, which declared Albania neutral. Ismail Kemal Bey,
whom I have just seen, expressed his satisfaction at Italy's action at
Valona on both political and humanitarian grounds. He did not think
that the step would lead to complications, and described the condition
of the people at Valona as very miserable.
The Tribuna, commenting on the Government announcement, declares that
Italy's aim is for the present solely humanitarian, since the
miserable conditions of Valona necessitate sanitary aid. A few
companies of marines will land from the Dandolo to protect the
Sanitary Mission. With regard to coast surveillance, the British and
French Governments have warned Italy of a suspicious Moslem movement
in the harbor of Smyrna, whence a thousand rabid young Turks have
started or are starting on two steamers hired by the committee for
Albania, with the intention of hoisting the Turkish flag and
reannexing Albania to Turkey. Italy, in perfect accord with all the
signatories of the London Conference, proposes to thwart the attempt.
The Giornale d'Italia considers that what has been done at Valona is
sufficient affirmation of Italian interests. Italy never meditated
expeditions into the interior or a protectorate over Albania. The
Government's intention is to show that whoever touches Valona touches
Italian interests, which are that no power shall establish a naval
base there.