Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1917-11-22

is forced or held. but in any event we
are now seeing of the great de-
feats of the war. The Russian defeat
at the Dunajec carried with it the dis
location of the whole Russian line, the
loss of Galicia an,i the ultimate retire
ment from Poland. 1t carried with it
also the seeds Of the revolution which
removed Russia from the ranks OF the
nations fighting Germany.
tnquestionably German purpose aims
at producing 60 terrific a defeat TO
LATHAM armies az 10 harvest not only
great military profits. but even more
important political advantages. In a
word. the Germans are seeking to put
italy out of the war, as they did put
Russia out of the war by the defeat at
the Dunajec.
Success depends entirely upon the
morale of the Italian people. AS to that
we know very little. Conditions have
been bad in Italy for a year. There
nave been domestic disorders. There
are traces of things which unpleasantly
recall the Russian situation. But there
are dlfferences between the Italian peo-
pie and the Russian people which
should not be overlooked. Italy, unlike
Russia, is a united country. The Italian
people We're fused by the great sacri-
fices and deeds OF the last century. and
II Is to be hoped-and perhaps believed
that in the presence of a peril great
er than any Italy has known in her
national existence the whole Italian
people will rally as did the French after
the disasters of August, 1914. If this be
me case, the real German profit will be
comprehended In the salvation of Aus
trla, for no one can mistake the fact
n by this victory Austria, already
at the point of collapse, will be reani-
mated, Austrian morale will be raised
and the immediate danger of Austrian
collapse will be removed.
NOR Is 1t less certain that the effect
OF tn1s great German victory will re-
store IN Germany both the determine
ZION TO continue the al and a willing
ness to bear further burdens. Once
more, for the first time In a year, Ger
man armies have passed to the often
stve successfully and have won a great
victory. and this, In the German mind,
rightly or wrongly, will c~ounterbalance
all the long and terrible sacrifices of
the warfare on the western
front n the long delayed achievement
OF peace by the submarine.
Victory Of Materials.
once more l feel that l should remind
my readers that the German success is
not an achievement of numbers. but Of
materials. The Germans have never
succeeded greatly against thu French or
the British. even in the days when they
"@N " dOlS dONdIlldko III nedNS
artillery after the Marine. and since the
french and British began to acquire
heavy artillery Of their W they have
first been defeated at Verdun and then
thrust slowly but surely back at the
Somme, the Aisne and the User. On the
other hand: fighting against the Ru-
manians, the Serbians, the Russians
and tho Italians. all OF whom lack heavy
artillery in large quantities, they have
won their great victories. Of which the
recent triumph on the upper IsonZo is
a shining example.
A great discussion will now GO on
as to the duty Of the allies toward Italy.
had the allies performed their duty his
disaster would have been avoided. I do
not think this lie true. because the dis
aster Is of the sort that no munition-
ment could prevent. The Italian gen
eral staff has obviously peer caught
mapping. Like the Russians in 1915,
their attention. had been too deeply con-
centrated upon their own offensive and
they had forgotten the possibility OF
the enemy attacking. Had the Italians
been supplied with more guns and more
munitions by their allies, they would
unquestionably have used them On
their center. n not on their flank.
me victory NAV be due in part to
heavy artillery. in part TO the use of
gas about which we hear much and
know little now: but beyond all else,
IT Is a victory by superior g%eneralship.
The Germans In 1917 on the Italian
front have seen their chance, as they
saw 1t on the Galician front two years
ago. and have taken it, with vital con-
sequences to their enemy.
Yet in the presence of disaster II II
essential to preserve our perspective,
Unless the Germans succeed in put.
ting Italy out OF the war their victory
will be essentially defensive. 1t viii
carry with 1t the salvation Of Austria
but at q price which will ultimately
weaken German resistance on the west
which is the decisive field Of the war
provided the allied ranks remain un.
broken. Germany will ultimately lose
the Wal on the western front and thu
necessity OF her sending troops ant
guns to the Italian front which mighj
be used effectively on the western front
indicates how grave was Austria's cit
uation. and how Imminent was tho
peril OF Austrian collapse.
NOW, turning to the operation Of tn,
french at h Atsne, we see an exampl,
OF b perfect. though local. success. At,
lacking with h purpose Of carrying
certain German positions, but with n.
retain has won q victory Of consider
able proportion. He has thrust q wedR,
between the st. Gobain plateau and tn,
Athlete river which carries an eventua
menace to the German hold on Laol
and an immediate peril to the few Ger
man positions remaining south Of tn
Athletic river. He q more this
10000 prisoners and 100 guns, and h
has eliminated from the war not les
than $4,000 German troops. Five or si
German divisions will have to be re
organized before they can appear O,
the battle line again. +
Western Front Wavsrins.