Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-25
What Italy May Achieve

+ the predictions OF the military experts are
verified and the Italian navy relieves the
French fleet operating in the Adratic, so that
the latter may re-enforce the Anglo-French
forces engaged in the attack the Darda-
relies, that operation should be much simpli-
fed. The progress already made reasonably
assures ultimate success. hut the allies
speedy success is Of large consequence.
The forcing OF the Dardaneles and the
reduction OF Constantinople will have politi-
cal and geogra phcal consequences almost
mmeasurable, but the immediate military
object is the opening Of the Black Sea to al
lied commerce, that Russia may he sup
Piled with the arms and munitions of war
she so sadly needs. The defeat the Russian
arms have suffered in Galicia is attributed
largely to lack OF matera les specially OF am
munition for big guns The Austro- German
artillery simply overwhelmed its antagonists
There have been other evidences in the last
few months OF this deficiency, which has pre-
vented Russia from utilizing her almost in
eNhaustible supplies OF men.
The use of ammunition in this war has
been on scale unprecedented in former CON
hcts. and apparently not anticipated by the
military authorities Of any OF the warning
powers. Germany France and England, and
10 n less extent Austria Hungary, were de-
veloped industrially to a degree tina, per-
Iritted them make up for this tremendous
expenditure, but Russia in another case
size could not manufacture her own ammuni-
ton in sufficient quantities. and she had no
such facilities for import as wore possessed
by France and England The only available
ports were Nladivostok. the Pacific and
Archangel on the Arctic Ocean. The latter
has been closed by ice for months. while sup
plies landed at the former have had TO be
transported across Siberia and all of Euro
pean Russia to the battle lines i'm Poland
Galicia and the Iukowina.
1t is likely, therefore, that one OF the first
effects Of ltaly's entrance into the war will
be added forces and renewed strength in the
attack on the Dardanelles Even from Italy's
viewpoint, however selfish. this will he ex-
coilent strategy, for a SCATTERING defeat Of the
russians would release large armies for an
assault on her own border provinces. The
Russians along the Vistula and the San an
pear 10 be holding firmly, hut they can con-
tnue to hold only with the assurance that
taolr ammunition needs will be met con
stantly. The forcing of the Dardanelles and
the Bosporus would give that assurance in a
trce.
on land and the Italian offensive
should it dcvelop-will be directed toward
Trieste and Fiume. ii it gathers sufficient
strength it is conceivable that a march
might be attempted across Croatia and Bosnia
10 a junction with the now rcjuvenated Scr
ian army. 1t is difficult TO believe that
Italy Will attempt TO force her way north into
Austria prOper-indeed, it is far more likely
that an tro-German attack will be
launched from the Businesses OF the Austrian
fyrol which the Italian forces will have
trouble enough To withstand.
The Italian fleet is believed TO be some
where in the Adriatc, although its exact
Whereabouts has not been revealed to the
public II will not make a serious onslaught
against Trieste or Fiume without the assist
hnce OF the army--and the army may be en-
gagged elsewhere. 1t would seem now that
" The hest service Italy could render her allies
would be 10 assist at least negatively by
relieving the French in the Adriatic, and per-
haps positively by the dispatch Of an army
in the reduction OF the Dardanelles