Evening star., 1917-11-25

this. further troops are being moved
to the Italian arena from the Russian
front. The weakness Of the western
battle line, as made plain by Gen.
brai, indicates that the Germans have
not even spared this arena in their
one big desire to strike the fatal blow
to italian hopes and aspirations.
During the past week the Germans
have centered their chief attacks in
the series of low mountains between
the Asiago plateau and the Piave river.
The Germans have hurled charge arter
charge against Gen. Diaz's men Some
of these have been more or less sue
cessful. but in the main the assaults
of the invaders from Lake Garda to
the Adriatic have been turned back.
Austrians and Germans have no end
of machine guns. They have employed
every bit of strategy known to noun
every bit Of STRAIT
Slaughter Marks egy known to noun
tain fighting. They
Fearful Battle. have sought to
overnower the Italians by the very
height Of man power. but advancing
columns have been completely riddled
nv counter Italian fire. In some dis
trictS
niIed high over their own positions
and Immediately before Italian lines.
So constant and bitter has been the
lighting that the invading armies un-
doubtedly have lost tens o. .nousanus san .
moment that the Italians have escaped
great losses in the present series OF
battles. Though usually. and particu-
larly in the present case; asnies on
the superior numbers of Teutons
forces the Italians to fight doublY
harder than would be the case were
the belligerents more evenly matcneo
in point of numbers and guns.
But the Italians are holding, and this
largely through their own endeavor.
though undoubtedly British and French
forces have arrived on the scene OF
battle To what extent this aid has
been given, the world, other than the
military leaders and governments most
concerned, does not know. But II the
Italians continue to hold their present
positions another week assistance from
Italy's allies undoubtedly Will De OF
decisive character.
The chief Germanic effort at the pres
ent juncture is directed at the Italian
positions between Asiago and the Pave.
The lower reaches of the Piave are
firmly defended by the miles OF water
which the Italians have placed between
themselves and the enemy by opening
| the fioodgates of the Piave and Sile.
To the north, in the region OF Zenson,
the Austrian forces which effected a
crossing of the river have been prac-
tically annihilated. They have made
, strenuous efforts to hold their posi-
tions on the western bank of the river
and have even continued to fight when
| forced out on the sandbars in the mid
die of the stream. The Austrian cas-
! ualties at this point are declared enor-
nous. Bodies are to be seen floating
down the stream. while the sandbars
are covered with still figures clad in
Austrian uniforms.
! In the region of Follina and Fagare
the Germans attempted to effect two
crossings. but were driven back by the
terrific Italian fire.
|
/ X X
| A group Of marauders might seize a
great Industrial plant, but were they
| unable to diff
Basis of Hope ferentiate be-
for Stronger Russia. srnor On sos sn
engine and betting over the shafts, they
would be unable to run the manufac.
tory efficiently and profit by its output
Likewise, q group of political dreamers
Imay bring about the downfall Of a gov
ofnment. but should their dreamS he