The Washington herald., 1917-10-30
Allies Lose War if Lom-
hardy Plain Is Swarmed,
Says Official.
ITALY In GREAT NEED
OF SHELLS AND MEN
Germany Hopes to End the
Struggle In One Colos-
sal Stroke.

The AustroGerman blow against
Italy is autocracy's most tremen-
dous and most crushing effort to
win the war is one colossal stroke.
This was the direct assertion in
official cables from Rome received
here yesterday. The battle. it is
said. is one of the greatest of the
greatest worlds war. In ooncen-
trated fury of attack it outrivals
the Dunajec. Verdun and the
Somme.
Months of Preparation.
The two great powers of the
Central Alliance-Germany and
Austria-hsve been preparing for
months for this one tremendous
stroke. Undreamed of supplies of
munitions and unsuspected num-
bers of men were concentrated for
what the Teutonic autocracies hope
will be the decisive action of the
war.
To witness hoped-for ful6llment.
both Teutonic emperors are at the
battle front-Emperor William. to
inspire his jaded troops. and
Emperor Charles. in supreme COM
mand of his Austro-Hunsarian
armies. On the other side of the
front a third ruler. King Emman-
uel, of Italy. is .xLor;ing his men
to supreme sacrifices.
Thousands of italian soldiers are
accepting certain death in an effort
to stem the Austro-German rush long
enough for Italy's reserve armies to
come up and take over the Taglia-
mento line in hopes OF breaking the
onslaught with their river defenses.
Every resource at Germans ano
Austria's command has been en-
ployed in this tremendous stroke. In
addition, Bulgaria and Turkey are
represented by armies at what the
Teutonic Emperors apparently hoped
would be a decisive field OF battle.
Thousands Of the greatest of Krupp
and Slsoda guns were concentrated; I;
hundreds OF thousands Of troops were
brought up. And. working hand in
hand. was the German secret service
at its point of highest efficiency. II
was spy work." indeed. which die
tated the moves of the German gen.
eral stan. II was officially stated
here that German spies in Italy were
directly responsible for the selection
of the Caporetto front as the main
point OF attack.
Gloom Ia Intense.
BY the nature of the ground and the
vast peril to German troops OF flank
ing attack, II would have been mad
ness to attack on this sector had not
Germany had advanced anformationpf
ltaly's weakness in guns and muni-
tions. Furthermore, SO convinced was
the italian general staff that no army
woCld risk disaster by an attack vio>
lative of every tenet OF military law
and usage that the Caporetto front
was defended only by territoriaIs. This
also was made known TO Germany by
spies.
In order to hold Italy is massinS
every soldier she can mobilize The
Adriatic littoral is being stripped of
men to enable the greatest effort to
be made on the Tagliarento. The
situation all along the coast has been
left to the hands of the navy. The
Italian and Austrian navics are abouI
equal in strength. but in this moment
Of crisis English, French and Japan
csc warships are cooperating with the
Italian in the defense of the coast.
1taiy's peril is summed up in this
statement. made in a high quarter
yesterday:
'If We can't get guns and shells i'm
nediately We cannot hope to hold the
Tagliamento. cividale. our main mu-
nitions base, Is gone. Luckily we had
time to blow UP the depots. so. at
least. the Germans and Austrians
didn't get them.
I'VE we're outnuubered to 1. Every
one has underestimated Germany's
and Austria's man power and ability
to provide armies. But that Is COM
mon mistake. II we had had shells
We might have made some kind of a
defense. II We get shells now We hope
to hold the Tagliamento. We probably
can hold II even until shells come
from America. France and England
are sending them now.
IF We can't get enough and the
Tagliemento is carried and the Lon-
hardy plain swarmcd., 1t wont be a
question Of winning the war In two
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