The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-11-19

hard fighting The enemy along four
different lines OF attack Is endeavor-
ing to 'outnank and II possible &c
crush the Italian armies and de-
bouch In the heart OF northern italy
while attempting to drive ahead
across the Venetian plain along a
broad front, the Austro-Gerrlaa n
forces have thrown large masses OF
troops against the Italian defensive
positions guarding the Trentino r
In spite of the intense strain OF
the engagements in which the Italian
rearguard acquitted themselves very
we'll. the Italian defense Is harden
ing.
Along the Piave and in the region
of the Lake of Garda as well IS along
the Brenta, II would appear that the
enemy while scoring local advan =
tages, Is being successfully countered.
ION the lower Piave the hostile at
tempt to cross the river was partial
lv successful resulting IN the capture
OF BENSON. The italians have now
ppened the bikes in this sector which
will render the enemy advance dif-
fcult.
while It must he knowiedged
that the full Anstro- German strength
in the Treutino has net yet been de
ployed, and developments in the sec
tor must be awaited. nevertheless the
present temper of the Italian armies
and the strong allied reinforcement
which are arriving smoothly and me-
medically in the Italian theater
should lead us to contemplate the tu-
yure with confidence.
Trying for Diversion.
"A principal purpose OF the Ger
man invasion OF Italy was to divert
the attention primarily of their own
people. of neutrals. and even OF the
allies and ourselves. from the con
tfnued allied successes in the chief
theater OF operations in the west,
and particularly at this tuncture from
the uninterrupted series OF defeats
which the Turkish forces. command
ed led and reinforced by Germans,
have suffered at the hands of the
British.
situation in Palestine.
The military situation tn Palestine
ard Mesopotamia must he considered
II we are TO arrive az a clear per-
spective OF the progress OF the war.
Tn Palestine the British drive ON
Jerusalem ia developing in most
satisfactory manner.
The pursuit OF the defeated Turk
SSH forces continues. The British are
sn close contact with the fugitive
British armies and are administering
HI uninterrupted series ef hard
RtowHr winch are having mar heA
effect.
Cavalry is being used TO good ad-
vantage in maintaining continuous
contact with the enemy and IN fol
lowing up the successes Of the main
forces
TN one engagement = single cav
airy division, with only a portion Of
STA electives engaged. captured l.los
prisoners, together with artillery
and other material
The Investment Of Jerusalem from
the west In beginning to assume wei
s.efned proportions
THE railway lire Including the
junction Of the Damascus Beersheba
road with that Of the Jerusalem
IAfra line, is now firmly in British
hands.
"Jara, thes principal seaport oil
Palestine, in now coming under the
com bined Are Of the allied guns on
land and sea. It's capture Will greatly
facilitate operations,
EnveIopenteDt of Jerusalem. Il
The mobility of the British forces
ard the rapidlty OF Their Offensive
operations along the sea coast which
may result In the enveloping OF Je
Tusslem from the west are factors OF
immediate importance.
The German high command must
now concentrate its efforts in an at
tempt 10 starn the British advance,
and this will probably relieve what
ever hostile pressure IT was proposed
by the Germans to bring to bear
against Bagdad.
1T Is estimated that the Turkish |
forces operating In Palestine have /
lost one-half Of their effective /
strength.
In The Mesopotamian sector the
British are also pursuing successful /
forward movement. !
North OF Tekrit the troops under |
The command ot General MaHtse af@ |
sweeping the remnants of the Turk /
ash troops before them and have
reached the point some forty miles |
north of this center. bringing the /
British outpost within approximately |
400 miles of Mosul
In the Balkan war zone Increased /
activity il noted. The British exc |
cuted several raids In the Strurna val /
ley, ipficting losses on the enemy
Tn the French sector artillery &C
siwity west of Lake 0chrIda has in /
creased in intensity,
The enemy made several unsuc- /
cessful attacks on trenches held by
the Italians,
Tn Russia tho situation continues
disturbed