The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-29

with an armistice on the Russian
front; with heavy snowstorms in
France and Flanders; and with the
inauguration of guerilla warfare IN
Palestine, the only important nght-
ing OF the week has been on the Ital-
ian front, and the most interesting
feature OF the war news has been
the progress of the peace negotia-
lions between the Central Powers
and the BoIsheviki government.
Virtually no news has come from
France or Flanders during the week.
Evidently there have been no in
fantry engagements OF Importance,
and only moderately heavy artillery
duels. The lighting has consisted
entirely of trench raids.
The Purpose In Italy.
In italy, the Austrians and Ger
mans are pursuing the policy Of
striking alternately on first one side
OF the Brenta river and then on the
other, in an attempt to break through
the mountain passes into the Vene-
tian plains before the heavy SHOWS
come.
The SHOWS are unusually late this
year. The weather has been cold,
but clear. and as yet there have been
no storms to make communications
difficult in the passes II the italians
can hold, and there seems to be
every reason to believe they will,
the long lines of communication Of
the Austrians and Germans, through
the Alps, will be made very diff
ficult, and anything like a sustain
ed offensive will be impossible I'M
til spring. In their alternate blows,
which are aimed to outflank the
Piave line, the invaders are showing
a spirit Of desperate haste, and no
thought Of the heavy losses. II they
break through on the west bank of
the Brenta, it will force a retire
ment to the Adige river. II they
break through to the east of the
Brenta, this river will still offer line
Of defense for the Italians. The posi-
tions taken have been important, but
far from vital, and the Italians, !
strengthened by British and French
troops, now appear most confident
of preventing any further advance.
This line is not likely to cause any
further worry before spring
When the winter SHOWS come, the |
fighting in Italy probably will be
transferred to the lower Piave near
the Adriatic. The mountain passes
can be held with very thin lines, and
both sides will have big reserve
force to be released for lighting else
where. But the lower Piave is well
fortified, and it has been flooded for
a great part Of its length. so the pos
sibility Of breaking through here is
not regarded az seriously by the
Allies.
Fighting In Palestine.
In Palestine the Turks are report
ed to have retired to the mountains
north Of Jerusalem, from which they
are conducting species Of guerilla
warfare, making sorties on the Brit
ish outposts. Apparently nothing is
to be feared from the Turkish army
unless some strong achievements
are received, and the British may be
content to hold the territory they
have already acquired, without push
ing their offensive farther, which
would only lengthen their lines with
out serving any real military pur-
pose.
No Offensive In Balkans.
The appointment of a successor to
Sarrail, commander Of the
Allied armies in the Balkans, was
construed by some to mean an Of
fensive. For two years this big
force has been idle. and many have