Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-10-31
THE ITALIAN DISASTER

That which has befallen the Italians on the U
front is more than a reverse; it is a disaster. Grounu
that the heroic Italian soldiers had wrested from their
enemies by months Of grim, desperate fighting, mas ~
lost to them, and they are confronted by the possloanS
of the occupation of considerable sections OF their own
territory by the Austro-Germans. More important III"
this to them and to the allies generally is tho fact wn'cn
the military advantage which they had gained over their
opponents has been lost; the capture OF destruction u
one of the great Austrian armies, which was beginning
to appear a possibility, has been averted; material mas
been created for the allying of political unrest in Austria
and the news of victory, which will be spread through the
central empires, will do all that news can DO to recon
cne the people to further effort and further sacrifice. and
to renew in them the hope that the Teutons may yet
emerge triumphant from the war.
That this defeat will induce the Italians to consider
q separate peace, or to consider any peace short of one
based on the extinction of the German military regime,
is not to be imagined. : Italy is united for this war. and
she will remain united. The letter from Mrs. castelli,
wife Of Colonel Castell, once of this city, which Is pub
lished in another column states the case impressively
in these words: -
1t is sad, and one sees no end: nor does one de-
sire a premature peace which would be an affront to
those who have paid with lives and happiness to rid
the world of this horror, the German military system
and its lust for war.
Disasters can be retrieved. This one will be retriev.
ed. 1t is costly, and the world must pay the cost in the
lengthening Of the war. in more lives lost, In moro suffer-
ing entailed. But everything that has been lost will be
regained.
attributed in large measure to lack of ammunition. For
many weeks that lack has been felt, and because Of that
lack the Italian advance. at one time remarkably rapid,
has been impeded. The Italian authorities. placing a
high value on the operations along their own front, have
urged their allies to arrange for the diversion to that
front of enough ammunition to supply their needs.
Whether or not there has been any such diversion, the
munitions have not reached the front In sufficient time
and sufficient quantities to equip the Italian troops to
Withstand the onslaught made on them. Military opin-
ion has been divided as to the wisdom Of sending large
quantities of supplies to Italy at this time. On the one
hand it has been urged that the completion Of the 1tal-
ian offensive would create such a strong sentiment in
Austria that the Austrian government would be driven
to abandon the war and its German ally in order to save
any portion of Its power over the people Of its own en-
pire. The opposite contention has been that the western
front has been chosen by the allies as the place for their
greatest endeavor, and that under no circumstances
should their attention waver from that. In the discus
sion of the proper course to follow now there are evident
the same two opinions. In any case 1t seems certain that
substantial aid will be sent to italy.