New Britain herald., 1917-10-27
Ten German Divisions Are Wait.
ing Behind the Enemy Lines
MORE AUSTR0 DIVISIONS
Situation Being Treated Very Serious
ly, and An Extensive Invasion of
Italy At This Time Would Affect
Whole Allied Cause Russians Evac-

London. Oct. 27.-The Austro- Ger
man blow on the Isonzo Is featured by
the morning newspapers which COM
ment rather anxiously. News des-
patches disclose that Field Marshal
Won Mackensen is in command of the
enemy forces. A British correspond
ent on the italian front in a telegram
under Wednesdays date says:
This is going to be one of those
terrible crises when each side stakes
all upon the throw and when thou
sands of men are strained to the limit
OF exhaustion for a decision whose eff
fects will reach far beyond the battle
field and nodify the whole course of
the war. Italy is about to meet sin
gle-handed almost the entire Austrian
army and to bear alone the burdens
she hitherto has shared with the Rus
slams. It is known that at least ten
German divisions are waiting behind
the enemy front and that the num-
ber Of newly arrived Austrian divisions
is even greater
Subsequent dispatches confirming
the violence Of Won Mackensen's on
slaught, taken with the Italian and
German official statements, cause COM
mentators here to treat the situation
very seriously. The Times sees the
news from all other theaters eclipsed
and reads grave warnings in the des-
patches from the italian front.
"The Immediate military possibili-
ties of the Austro German offensive"
it says, "are of a character which the
Allies must instantly take into ac
count An extensive invasion of Italy
at this juncture would affect the whole
! Allied cause. In that spirit measures
| must be taken should the necessity
| arise"
The Morning Post says the situation
| evidently is critical and that the Brit
| ish nation must realize that fresh ef-
| fors and fresh sacrifices are necessary.
( The Daily News thinks that all the
gains made in Italy's summer cam
paign are in jeopardy and fears that
| it is an evil omen that the period of
military tension comedies with the po
! litical crisis in Italy.
| On the other hand the Times thinks
that the menace of invasion has
strengthened the parties in Italy who
criticised the Boseln government for
| lack of vigor in conducting the war
and that the Austro German on
slaught will have an effect in Italy
| GULL dIy " l1loI dlClClPe1eSo w eAAN
| enemy.
Confidence also is expressed here
| in General Cadorna and in the Italian
army while it is hoped that General
| Petain's successes on the Aisne and
the pressure in Flanders will balance
| matters.
| "The Germans must still be strong y
says the Post, "if they can deliver a
| great assault on the Isonzo and at the
same time rest secure in Flanders"
Make Further Progress.
London, Oct. 27.-British troops
have made further progress west of
| Passchendaele, east Of Ypres, says the
| official statement from Field Marshal
| Haig today. Two strong German
| counter-at were repulscd during
the night and the ground gained yes
| terday was consolidated.
| Petrograd, Oct. 2T.-Prcparations
are being made in Helsingfors for the
evacuation Of that city, according to
! q telegram received here.
| A report from Stockholm to the
Novoe Nreyrna says that IN view Of
the easy advance in the Russian ter
ritory, the Germans arc preparing for
e. descent on Finland and, protiting by
their propa ganda, expect to be able
Y,