The Washington times., 1915-05-25
EXPERTS SPECULATE
UPON |TALY'S BLOWS

Although the world war has shown
how little dependence can be placed on
armchair strategy experts and on pa
per strength OF armies the entrance of
Italy into 1t affords interesting specula-
ton as to what her army and navy can
accomplish.
The test will be found in whether
decisive victories are won. Army and
navy men here are inclined to expect
large achievements from Italy. One
school of strateg.sts Is convinced other
wise, and predicts the Austro- German
forces by a quick drive down the valley
Will either crush back the Italian forces
or compel them to assume an indefinite
defensive. This cannot be said to be
the prevailing view Of military men
here.
Realizing, that both the Italian army
and navy Is up against heavy fighting.
the expectation is that both will give
such an account Of themselves that, al
though there may be no march Of Ital-
ians to Vienna, the Germans and Aus
trians will be obliged to maintain enor-
nous forces in southwestern Austria in
order to shield Austria from an invasion
that might be decisive.
The tendency. II Is thought, will he TO
make the military problem easier for
the allies in France and Belgium, and
for Russia in Galicia and on the Russo
German frontier, Should Roumans enter
the war. with her army Of G00,OO men
the conditions for the allies would be
still further improved
Italy is credited with over 5000 OOU
fghting men and while. ordinarily. 1t
would take many months to get such a
force in the field. there is no doubt that
Italy has been steadily preparing for
war since last August. Some army men
predict that two months time will he
adequate to allow Italy to get 5000 GoO
troops into the Hold and that she can
onen hostilit'es with about |. 800 OO0 men.
The Italian standing army In late
years has been excellently trained. IT'S
officers have dctcloped greatly, it gain
well-equipped with an excellent system
Of strategic railroads. II the italian
army is raDnhv led. army officers here
as a rule think it will prove equal to
to the Austrian forces
one fact which has to be taken into
account IS that the Italians are united
as 4 nation in favor of the war and
are entering it with enthusiasm ard
fervor. 1t Is trun that some of the past
performances ~ Italian troops such as
the Abyssinian "ampsien. have not been
such as to Justify expecting much OF
them, but there are many reasons why
the morale of the Italian troops in this
war is likely to prove exceptionally
high.
Occasionally an army officer here
takes the view that the Italian army
Will prove the surprise of the war, and
the real instrument of bringing about
peace
AS for the Italian navy. opinion Of IL
among navy men is generally hieh. II a
credited with having made much ad-
vancement in recent years
Most strategists agree that the TtaI-
ians intend to strike with a big force
from Tdine eastward and southeast :
ward against Trieste. The country
here is comparatively favorable for a
big movement.
Other theories are that Italv will
throw LARGE force OF men across the
Adriatic and move nnrthward a-cins.
Austria from that side: that ftalian
troops will he sent to the HsrdsnslIes:
and that an Italian army vii he sent
into France 20 help the allies in a
smashing attack on the German ex-
ZONE left on the Western front.