South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-12-30
GREATEST ALLIED DISASTER
Of YEAR TAKES PLACE ON
FRONT HELD BY ITALIANS
Collapse of Russia Released Teuton Troops for
Use Against Italy in Great Austro German
Drive-FrenCh and British Send Aid.

llcia and at other points. and the
Russian bolsheviki revolt with its
policy OF separate peace. the great
est disaster TO the allies OF the year
1917 took place on the Italian front.
Several hundred thousand prisoners
taken. several thousand guns captur-
cd and vast gains in territory made
by the Germans. together with the
complete smashing OF the Italian
Trieste offensive, is the result Of the
great Austro- German drive, which
began in the latter part of October.
After desperate efforts the Ital-
ians. reinforced by British and
French. have managed 20 stop the
great Teutonic offensive But only
after Italian morale had been Sc
riOusly threatened and Italy had
come perilously close to being melted
out the fate Of Servia and Rou-
mania. Austro- German troops
swarmed across the Italian frontier.
threatening the Italian line with re-
peated banking movements, and en-
dangering the historic city OF Ven
ice. Queen of the Adriatic'
The great Austro- German drive
came az the close OF a brilliant Ital-
ian offensive aimed against Trieste
So threatening did the Italian ad
vance become that the Austrians
were reported evacuating Trieste.
The Russian collapse. however. per-
mitted the removal of large forces
10 the Italian front. and the often
sive against Italy was begun. pos
sibly 10 bolster up public feeling at
home and strengthen the morale of
the Teutonic peoples, and possibly
with the expectation of eliminating
italy once and for all as a serious
factor i'm the war.
From the FIRST of the year until
the middle OF May the Italian front
saw little action. The great diff
cultiea of the mountainous frontier
made progress Of Gen. Cadorna $
troops slow The Italians had seen
some Of the most difficult lighting of
the war Vast mining operations
had 10 be undertaken and tremen-
dous peaks conquered. However,
about the middle Of May saw the
beginning OF an Italian offensive in
the Julian Alps, which shortly aft
er grew into a general offensive.
Then came the Italian successes on
the Carso plateau. which by the
early part of June had nctted near
ly 100000 prisoners Aug. 10 saw
The start OF another big Italian Of
feusive. during which period the
safety Of Trieste was threatened.
The italian offensive on the Isonzo
came 20 halt about the early part
of October a brief lun jim opera
tions came soon followed however.
by the Austro-German offensive
which resulted i'm the Italian de-
bacle This disaster brought about
The fan of the Italian cabinet and
The removal of cen. Count Cadorna
as commander-in-ch OF the ItaI-
ian armies and the substitution of
Gen. Diaz. French and English
troops arrived in Italy In time 10
take part in the last stages OF the
Italian stand which finally stopped
the Teutonic onrush.
one Of the results OF the Italian
defeat has been the development OF
closer unity among the allies Pre-
lnier Lloyd George of England and
Premier Painleve of France in
speeches criticised the conduct of
the war and while blaming no one.
urged greater unity calling for a
united front" Political crisis re-
suited from these speeches in both
England and France. Lloyd George S
cabinet tOppled. but was saved
largely through the support under
stood to have been given the Pre-
mier by the United States Col. r.
NJ. House. at the head 81 the Amer
scan var mission, being then in
London. Premier Painleve. how
ever. failed TO procure "a vote OF
confidence from the French cham
Der OF deputies. and Georges Glenn
snceau succeeded him. forming a
new cabinet
Another result OF the italian dis
hster was the formation OF an inter
allied committee 20 handle the milf
tary problems OF the western and
italian fronts as one continue IS line
This committee vas COMPOSED OF
Gen FoCh. chief OF the French war
ministry sta6 Gen. Wilson Of the
British general staff and Cen Ca
dorna. deposed Communicated chief
Of the Italian armies