The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1917-09-15
The Italian Hammer

For long months during the sec
ond and third year of the war the
world gave little attention to the eff
forts of the Italians to break thru
the line of AuStria's mountain fort
resses. Of late we have taken much
greater account oil the work OF the
Italian armies because Cadorna's
brilliant strategy and the victories
won and the ground gained by his
splendid fighting forces have COM
PEELED attention. The dispatch from
our correspondent at: the Italian
front gives ground for. the belief that
Italy before long may claim greater
share of the worlds consideration,
that, indeed, she may become for the
time the chief factor sin the war.
Italy entered the war late and
Austria had prepared against her. At
first, as our correspondent points out,
Italy fought on the plains, advancing
against the strong Italian position in
the mountains. Now Cadorna's
troops, themselves in the mountains,
have captured many Austrian posi-
tions, the imperial line has been bro
ken and driven back until not only
Trieste is threatened. but mention is
made o fadvances in the direction OF
Vienna" This was not very well I'M
derstood in this country, for Vienna
seemed far away. Now We know
what it means, for Cadorna, at the
moment valiantly battling for the
possession of the crest of Monte San
Gabrielle, and reasonably certain OF
taking it. is only forty miles from
Laibach At Laibach the mountains
end, and beyond there, if the Austri-
ans are driven so far, they will have
the advantage of no fortified posi-
tions, they will have to fight in the
open against Cadorna' S victorious ar
mics.
With Laibach in the hands of her
enemy, AuStria'S communications
with her naval stations on the Adri-
attic will have been: cut, Trieste, of
course, will have fallen, and the
Italian penetration d the territory of
Emperor Charles viii have proceeded
far enough to make the already
much shaken Austrans realize their
imminent danger & is evidently the
belief of the high italian command
that the 0perationssof CadOrna's ar
mics, should their success continue,
will have very material influence
upon the course and the Stockarar
upon the course and the outlook of
the war, even if they do not bring
its end into view through the de-
struction of Austria's armies and de-
feats from which she will be unable
TO recover.
Italy does not nsed men; accord
ing to our correspondent she has A.
SOC, 600 in the field. What she
! does need is guns. She also needs
coal and airplanes, but above all
she can go to Laibach. and if she
goes there she can go further Max
ing all allowance for the spirit of
optimism which victories have en-
gendered at the Italian headquarters,
it is obvious that an appeal for artil-
lery from the Italians is not one
which the Allies would deny. I'm
fortunately, we are not makers OF
cannon on a large scale, otherwise
We could supply Italy's needs, for
guns can be transferred from the
French front to the Italian positions
in four or five days. The English
and French will be certain to take
note of her need, and meet it. The
astonishing exploits of Italy in driv-
ing the Austrians from mountain po-
sitiOns which had been held to be I'M
conquerable is the best possible evil
dence that she deserves and will
make use of any reilforcements the
Allies can give her-N. Y. Times.