Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-11-18


in Italy, with the added circumstance of
the arrival Of French and British ar
mics AZ reinforcements, and the even
moro important arrival OF heavy ar
tillery, in which the Italians were de-
icient At the beginning. When Jonres
FIRST Offensive was destroyed by the
Germans he discovered that tho main
mass Of tho German army was coming
through Belgium and into France from
the northwest, and that the Germans had
successfully placed . greatly superior
force upon his left flank between the
Somme and the Disc on the east and the
channel on the west. He had then to
constitute two now armies to meet the
thrust, and while constituting these
armies to fight delaying engagements
to hold up. tho herman advance as much
as possible. Two Of these operations-
one along the Mouse and the other at
not uncomfortable
local French victories. but they could
not interfere with the general retire.
ment necessary to regrouping the
forces.
Italians Behind the Piave.
But on Sunday. November IL. the
mass of the italian army was behind
tho Piave. The new italian front ran
from the Adriatic behind this consider
able river barrier as far as the point
where the Piave breaks through the
first range Of the Alps, north Of the
Venetian plain: thence the line bends
northwest over the Asiago plateau.
making junction above tho Piave on
the Grappa mountain system with the
old front. BY this operation tho Ital-
ian front had been shortened by up
ward of two hundred niles-an the
long lines up the 'Dolomites. east OF
Belluno. through Cortina. across the
Carnic Alps and along the Julian Alps
been abandoned. Three or four thou
sand square miles of italian territory
had been surrendered. but by this date
the Italians had reached a line easily
defensible. and their northern nank
rested upon tho Alps on y part OF their
front still unbroken.
The problem that we have now to con-
slider IL tWofold. There are left 10 Aus
tro-German invaders two lines Of attack
ono proceeding through the plain along
tho railroads from Pontebba to Venice.
which would lead to a frontal attack
along the Piave; the other turning move
mont coming down out Of tho Trentino
behind the lines Of the Ptave.
Greatest Danger From North.
In my judgment the moro serious dam
ger to the Italians at the present time
comes from the north and not from the
east. In. their retreat the Italians have
destroyed tho. railroads as they retired.
They have to some extent laid waste
the country. and the Germans and the
Austrians are now faced with the prob
lem in their westward advance Of restor-
ing communications to enable them to
bring up their artillery and their NUM-
tions from their old lines to their new
front. over distance varying from nifty
time. the Italian resistsnce at the
Piave IL stinened sufnciently to hold until
such time as the German heavy artillery
can arrive, then the proba bilities Of q sue
cessful defense at the Piave are very
weight OF allied support which is coming.
On the other hand. for an attack de-
livered from tho north the Austro-Ger-
reaching straight up to the present front
For example. the thrust which broke the
Italian lines along the Isonzo was deliver
ed south Of Jarvis. along the main Wen
na-Venice railroad. 1t would now be pos
sible for the Germans. once the Italian
line has collapsed to move their artillery
by rail back through Villach and down to
Trent over the double-track line familiar
to all Tyrolese travellers. From Trent 1t
could be sent forward through the Val
Sugana to that section Of tho front fac
ing the AsiaEo plateau. well behind the
ed here force tho Italian lines at this
point. Austrian and German armies could
descend to the valleys Of the Astico and OF
the Brenta. and the whole line Of the
Piave would collapse.
Austrians Tried and Failed.
This operation was attempted by the
Austrians single-handed In the spring
of 1915, while the Germans were carry
ing out their great verdun offensive. At