Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-29
AUSTRIA AND italy
PREPARE \ / TO CLASH
Arch Enemies Of Old, They Will
Soon 'Grapple Again Along
Border.
GUNS sRIsIrE ON HEIGHTS
General Conrad Has Devoted His
Whole Life to Preparation
for War.


ROME, APRIL 2s.--Durins the last
few days, signs indicate that III. Aus
trian general STAFF is preparing a mon
ater Offensive aienx the whole italian
border and 1t is thought that during
The spring and summer tn. Italian
armies will play prominent role Of
defense ,A. :
The exact point where the Austrians
VIII strike and try TO pierce the
ilallan lines is still a matter OF specu-
ition. While tho majority of military
experts agree that the Asiago Plateau
VIII be the theater OF bloody battles
inoirect Information intimates that this
time the 4 uatrians Will advance from
The Giudcaire Valley IN Lake Garda's
district and Will have for their i'm
mediate objective the city OF Grescia
With it's many steel works and import
ant ammunition factories. and that an
attempt al retakink Gorilla mus, not
. no regarded az altogether absurd or
Impossible
The Italian general stan. however,
looks forward,tu the sprins afod sum
ner campaigns without anxiety OF any
sort According TO report, no later
than fortnight aEo General Cadorns
net that last years mistakes on the
part Of one or two division comm nd ere
Will. not be repeated. that the Italian
lines along the 500 miles front is so
fortified as to be almost impreEnabie.
and that this year the enemys efforts
will DO frustrated.
General Cadorna's coaHdence is fully
shared by large nariber OF political
men in and out - Parliament, Some
OF them. who were lately the guests
OF the general star at a tour OF in
spection OF tho whole fron,, say that
whatever the .Auatrians' preparation
may he. General Cardorna's plans c4-
coed the expectations OF even the most
optiristic. From the Stelvto to the Car
mic fronts. some of here visitors told
me. tie mouth OF every valley leading
10 the Italian plans are guarded by
strong forces furnished with powerful
artillery md all the machine and auto
matte guns that can b. of practical
value to tho troops.
ITALY MASSES RESERVES
TO OPPOSE AGGREssIOS
Every height is bristlins with guns.
while the situation on the Trentin
front presents many other defensive
features that can be described with
=
nothing can be said about them. but
they are destined 10 cause a painful
surprise to the Austrian general staff
IL the latter gives the order TO attack.
Thanks to Italy's enormous man
power. the reserves massed at every
strategic point are by themselves inn
posing enough to discourage any aE
4ression. and visitors say that the
Italian nation can sleep in poace. as
future events will be OF a pleasant
rather than of a disappointing nature.
On tho other hand the Italian gen
cral star admits that the enemy's prep
arations exceed by far those Of last
year--that they can be described as
thoroughly imposing from every point
1t 10 about time TO correct the av-
craze Italians belief about Austrias
mower OF resistance and the RESERVE,
she, still mas at her disposal for
/ grand offensive on any front. The
widespread belief is that after thirty
TWO months OF continuous war and
many bloody reverses in Serbia and the
Russian front, Austria is exhausted
and that no stubborn resistance is to
be looked for in case OF general ad-
vance. This is erroneous. Austria has
still reserves enough for a grand Of
fensive and is still in a position to deal
many hard blows TO her enemies
Thanks to her Industrial preparation
Austria can renew her artillery every
year. and the reckless firing. and the
quantity OF shells and bombs wasted
on,the least important objective reveal
tho fact that the Austrian general staff
does not fear of running short of am
munition.
The Trentino border still renal ms
the CHIEF source of preoceuna ton. An-
cordjng to informal ton in possession
OF the Italian. general staff, durins the
winter, months the Austrian comma nd
4 has massed between Treste and Vii
lath reserves. which are estimated to
be triple the number OF those which
participate In last years Offensive:
As Last year thirty-siS divisions were
reported to be operating against Italy.
to-day'n less than ninety divisions, or
100000 men. are awaiting the ,oEder
TO invade Italy. These troops are only
in part o;Hcered by Austrians. III
most cases the officers OF whole army
corps are Germans. and now and then
Bavarian or Hanoverian amt com
rletesa division.
Nf5W ROADS FOR
$3.50 TRANSPORTATION OF MEN
Turing the winter many new roads
hsvesbeen opened up and many, wire
ways built along the whole front for
the speedy transportation of men and
ammunition. Those who have lately
Travelled through, Trentm state that IL
tho. Italians have been working over
time, the, Austrians have not been
idle. Above all, they have successfully
initiated the wireways which the
Italians, first introduced as the most
convenient means of comm unication
between two mountain peaks without
tojSchins the valley below. -! -