Semi-weekly herald., 1915-07-05
THE ITALIAN, INVASION.


complete ali her arrangements for
striking swiftly. Nor does it appear
to be due to inactivity of the Ital-
ian army or any serious opposition
of the Austrian forces on the Italian
frontier. Nature is the great ally of
the Austrians in this theatre of war
and the Italians have encountered
more OPPOSITION from her forces than
from Austrian bullets. The Italian
frontier was fixed by Austria to suit
her own military ends. From Switz-
erland to the Adriatic sea it follows
the southern or Italian slopes of the
numerous chains of Alps For many
miles Gin some places as much as
three hundred) back Of the frontier
line on the Austrian side, one noun
tain chain succeeds another in con-
fused mass of precipitous heights and
narrow valleys. with few good wagon
roads and fewer realroads. Strate-
gically, this frontier is greatly TO
Italy's disadvantage. 1t can be eros
sed only at the mountain passes which
can be defended with comparatively
weak forces. Between the passes are
wide stretches of country, practically
impossible to troops operating in
large numbers. In short, Italy is con-
fronted with all the difficulties,
strategical and tactical, incidental to
mountain warfare. The portions of her
army advancing through the various
passes cannot cooperate with certain
ty and are in great danger Of be
ing beaten in succession before as
sistance can reach them from neigh
boring forces. In one Of Napoleon's
campaigns in this same region he de-
feated superior Austrian army when
it was divided into two parts not in
supporting distance of each other, byI
attacking each of the parts in sue
cession. The Tyrol is thrust like a
dart for hundred miles or more into
northern Italy, and Italian columns
advancing through the passes on the
edge of this dart must meet on hos
tile soil before they can work togeth-
er as a team. This will be diff
cult think in the face of a centrally
located Austrian force, which can
strike the Italian columns one after
the other.
The problem of supplying the adj
vancing Italian columns will be most
difficult. Not all these passes have
railroads through them or even neac
to their Italian entrances. To haul
the supplies for a modern army over
wagon road for more than a few
miles from a railroad terminus, even
when the roads are good and plenti-
ful, is task Of such magnitude as
to make the boldest commander hest
tate. The farther the army advances
the more difficult it will be to for
ward food, ammunition and reinforce
ments, and when fighting begins the
task is increased by the necessity Of
sending the wounded to the rear. In
the passes and within the perimeter
Of the dart are Notifications that
must be reduced and large caliber
guns must be supplied in large num-
bers for this task. This means that
vast quantities of bulky ammunition
viii make further demands on the
transportation facilities which may
well overtax the capacity of the avail
able roads.
A reverse in such region may
easily become a disaster. A retreat
ing army must pass through the same
doorways by which it entered. At
the critical time when it is most nee
essary to concentrate to check vic
torious enemy it may have to sep
arate to save itself. The knowledge
that escape from this region is pos
sible only by way of few narrow
passes which may be barred might
make an army fight with the cour-
age of desperation, but it may easily
have the contrary effect. The dan
gers of the situation will affect the
ranks from the commander down. The
Russians i'll the Carapthians were in
just such n situation few weeks
ago when the German drive from
Craeow began TO succeed and threat
ened to close the Carpathian passes
behind them, while they were being
attacked in front by the Austrian
army. To save themselves, they beat
hasty retreat which for parts of
their army became rout.
Even with united army fighting
through these rugged mountains would
be n slow and costly procedure. All
the modern weapons of warfare must
be used here the same as on the
gently undulating lowlands. The cav
airy cannot be dispensed with vet il