New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-25
Further Retirement
May Prepare Way
for Counter Or
fensive British
and French
By FRANK H. SIMONDS
Author of "The World War;" They Shall
Not Pass

oomprehended in the problem whether
the Italians would be able to hold the line
Of the Pave or would be compelled to re-
tire to the Adige. Nevertheless, sugges
tons were beginning to appear that the
Italians would be able to hold the Piave I
line and vague hints that an Italian coun-
ter offensive, supported by French and
British armies, was not impossible.
It is this latter possibility that desire
to discuss at the present moment, with the
full recognition that the military proba-
blities still favor further Italian re-
tirement, but a retirement not excluding
the possibility that the Allies in Venetia
will subsequently pass to an offensive more
or less comparable to the Marine. 1t should
he borne in mind, moreover, that up to
Tuesday, November 20, there had been no
suggestion that French or British infantry !.
rad entered the fighting line or more than
few British guns had been engaged.
German strategy remains quite unmis |
taxable. For week there has been an
ever growing pressure upon the whole /
Italian position behind the Pave, there !
have been crossings Of small bodies of Aus !
trian troops and repulses of these attacks
without any serious consequences TO the
Italians. Meantime there has been steadily
growing pressure to the north, from the
roint where the front turns at right angles
10 the line of the Piave and follows the
foothills of the Alps all the way to the
Iago di Garda, and even beyond to the
Judicaria Valley, north Of Brescia. But
the main pressure so far has been from
the valley of the Upper Piave and along |
the Asiago Plateau On this, the northern, !
or Trentine, sector the Austrians and Ger !
mans have made small and by no means
decisive gains near the Piave, and the
Italian position is not yet seriously threat |
ened, and Italian counter offensives on the .
Asiago Plateau have made some slight |
Gains. equally indecisive. Now, as always, |
However, an advance of less than half |
dozen miles Just west of the Piave or in |
the valley of the Astico or the Brenta |
would enforce a retirement-to the Adige |
probably. TO the Brenta in any event.
Italian Morale Restored
Now. we do not yet know the final de-
ci,ion Of the Italian High Command, made
after conference with the representatives
of France and Britain. 1t is not yet clear
that the action at the Pave is more than
DELAYING fight, although it is beginning |
10 take on the character of a decisive con-
Aict, and signs are multiplying all OF
which point to the came thing, de- !
termination Of the Italians to tight 1t out
On the Piave. We see that, temporarily at
least. the Italian troops are giving evidence
Of restored morale, and all reports that
come to US from Rome and other Italian
cities heavily censored it is understood,
seem to testify to the rallying of the
Italian people under the threat Of invasion
and following disaster of the hrst
magnitude.
The situation Of the Austrian and Ger
man armies which have advanced along
the Venetian Plain and are trying to force
tie crossings of the Pave is still dif1cuit' !
They have behind them at least fifty miles
in which the communications have oeen
DESTROYED by the retreating Ital ans. The
two main railroad lines have been wrecked;
the bridges over the Isonzo, the Taglia-
rnento and the Livenza have been destroyed,
az the highway bridges have been. This
difficulty explains the fact that as yet the
heavy artillery Of the Austro-Germans has
not arrived and the first attempts made 70
Cross the river have been covered by few
Six-inch guns and mass Of machine guns
The Italians, on the other hand, have
behind them two railroad lines that are
in working oSder, and in addition third
line. running parallel TO their front be-
hind the Piaye River, in the main beyond
the reach of enemy artillery, and enabling
them 20 concentrate men and guns on any
oanger point with great speed. This ad-
vantage has been proven in the fashion
in wbieb the Austrians have been shelled
out Of positions gained on the west oank
Of the river with little delay and by guns
hastily co,centrated about the foothold
temporarily won.
Dun.iec az 8 Precedent
Now. the question Of restoring the roads
and railroads is not one 10 be solved IN
day or an hour. The whole Austro-Ger-
iran advance is conditioner upon '"e
movement Of artillery. Two years ago
tse advance Of Mackensen in Galicia aiter
lie Uunsjec showed just the same iimita-
ions. II was a long process TO get inc
gum forward 10 new line when the nus
SLAMS had retired from an old front Du'
IN The end the arrival OF the guns always
pecessitsted the retirement OF the NUS
slsns. because they never could oppose -
artillery concentration with guns Of tp-.'