New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-23
Italy's Answer to the Pope

which cleared the Germans from the I'M
mediate neighborhood of Douaumont, their
commander, in congratulating them upon
their achievement, pointed to it as the an
swer of France to the Kaiser's peace pro-
posal. In a very real sense the Italian
offensive now breaking out along the
Isonzo front must be accepted as the
Italian answer to the Papal peace pro-
posal.
Il will be recalled that before Italy
entered the war the Austrian government,
more or less under compulsion and through
the medium of Prince Won Bulow, offered
to Italy the larger part of the Trentlno,
provided Italy would stay out Of the war.
This territory, however, was to pass to
Italy only at the close of the war. 1t is
matter of common knowledge that at all
times in recent months Italy could have
made a separate peace with Austria and
acquired the Trentine district. On the
other hand, Trieste has never been con-
sidered by the Austrians as possible
concession, since it is the one considerable
'sport of the Hapsburg empire.
lhe Papal proposal for peace, which
suggested settlement of the Trentino
and Trieste problems by negotiation, meant
for every Italian the remuneration of
Trieste. 1t meant also that the capture
of Trieste had acquired new value, since
the Papal peace gesture was bound to be
only the first in long campaign for
peace in the approaching winter.
There used to be motto in Italy in the
days of the great liberating movement,
Italia fara da Sc" which meant that
Italy should do it herself. And it is quite
patent now that the Italians have recog-
nized that if Trieste is to pass to their
hands as a result of this war they must
conduct their military operations in such
fashion as to be in possession of it before
peace by negotiation comes.
The present Italian offensive is con-
coded by Vienna and by Rome to be the
most gigantic Italian effort of the present
war. The attacking front of thirty-seven
miles recalls the extent of line attacked by
Mackensen at the Dunajec in 1915 and
by Nivelle in his recent Aisne battle. 1t is
far and away greater than anything the
British have ever attempted; it compares
with the French front of seven miles at
Verdun year ago and the British opera
tive front Of twelve miles at Arras and Of
less than fifteen at Ypres this year. 1t
represents an effort by vast extension
of the front to break line held by an
enemy lacking the reserves to strengthen
each threatened point 1t suggests the
method pursued by Grant at Petersburg
in the closing chapter of the Civil War.
1t is too early to say from the scanty
returns that we yet have whether the
Italians will be able by this attack to
reach Trieste, but it is exceedingly doubt
full, if one is TO judge by the experience
Of the whole war. They have nine or ten
miles TO get forward over one of the most
difficult bits Of ground on the whole front,
the Carso Plateau. They have also on
their northern flank in the valley of the
lsonzo TO climb mountains Of considerable
height and TO master obstacles far more
difficult than anything that faces the
French at Verdun or the British in
Flanders.
II Austria is in bad way, if the morale
Of her troops is poor, if the Slav elements
manifest the same weaknesses that they
showed against the Russians, we shall see
an Austrian disaster presently compare
BE TO those disasters in Gslicia in 1914
and again in 1916. But it must be re
nembered that the Slavs who have sur
rendered by the hundred thousand to the
Russians have always fought with great
courage, desperation and determination
against the Italians. Actually Italy, by
entering the war, did not largely draw &c
herself Austrian troops which could other.
wise have been used against Russia, be-
cause most Of the troops used against
Italy were unreliable in the presence OF
Russian armies.
The Italian problem has always been ex-
oeedingly difficult because Of the chsrac-
la. LAoattaa IL The