Italy subsidy merchant shipping companies to increase Italian fleet in wartime according to the Dutch magazine Marineblad dated 1893-1894 no. 6

An item reported that the Italian cabinet followed the example of other (European) countries to subsidy merchant shipping companies and to use their ships in war time. Exports investigated at Naples and Genova steamships of the Societa General di Navigazione for this purpose. They had to report what conversions were needed to make the ships immediately suitable to serve. Some ships were to be fitted out with fish torpedo launchers. When the complete program was executed were if necessary more as 100 extra ships availbe for the Italian navy.