Evening journal., 1917-12-28
TIE ITALIAN CAMPAIGN
AND THE VERDUN Parallel
lFrom ihe New York Tribunel.

until they reached the Chalons-Verdun
road, scant six miles to the south.
then the French would have had 10
withdraw all their forces cast Of the
Meuse, evacuate Nerdun and find new
line to the south. They, too, would have
been exposed TO possible disaster in
retreating across a flooded river in the
face Of a victorious German army. They
escaped this danger because, while the
Germans took Dead Mans Hill and Hill
30i, they were never able TO set further
south.
Today the Austro-G Germans on either
bank Of the Brenta, along the AsiagU
Plateau and in front Of the Grappa mas
sit are repeating the German operation
at Verdun, and the Asiago Plateau
wholly correspond- TO Dead Mans Hill
and Hill 3Gi. If e. Germans can reach
the plain, only i've or six miles away,
the Italian line beyond the Brenla and
along the Plave must retire.
II the Austro-Germans fail along the
AsiagO and Monte Grappa and are com
PEELED to renew their offensive along
the Piave as the Germans failed west
Of the Meuse and had finally TO transfer
their attack TO the heights Of the Meuse,
tie Verdun-ltalian parallel will be per-
feet; but this seems wholly unlikely.
In the Nerdun time the final German
effort advanced very slowly, hut very
surely, from Douaumont TO Souville.
Verdun was literally at It's last gasp
when the Germans had TO quit. Now we
shall do well TO recognize that slow
as is the Austro-German advance, il is
proceeding methodically and steadily.
and as the Italians are being pu-hed Off
the last hills their whole Pinve position
is becoming more and more difficult
The fact that the Italians are counter
attacking furiously, as Petan did on
the west bank Of the Meuse, is the
best evidence Of the critical situation
in (which they find themselves, for the
counter attacks are exceedingly eX-
pensiye.
As it now stands the Piave position
Is SO gravely in peril that as a mere
mathematical question Of chances the
odds are that it will have to be evacu-
ated. Heavy SHOWS in the mountains
may yet save the Italians by abolishing
Austro-German communications, but
this seems TO be The best hope An An
glo-French counter offensive on the
lower Piave appears too risky because,
whatever its success. the line of com
munications and of retreat Of the troop
would still be threatened by the Aus
o-Germans to the north.
But recognizing the gravity Of the
situation on the military side, 10 is stih
more essential TO grasp the political
side The main objective is still politi-
cal The Austrians, for the main forces
Of the enemy are Austrian, are making
great efforts, paying a large price in
casualties, but exactlng at least as great
price, in the hope and belief that,
whatever the outcome on the field Of
battle, Italy will be exhausted by the
strain and will come TO domestic ruin
and accept a separate peace before the
main campaign in the West opens next
spring This would leave Germany and
Au-tria with their hands free for a
final campaign against tho Anglo-French
armies before the United States could
exercise any decisive influence in the
West.
II would be a mistake to be deceived
/ by any temporary gains Of Italian cOun-
! ter Offensives The Italians arc putting
! up a glorious and memorable defence
I but the battle is slowly but surely go
ing against them, and their present
situation is little short Of desperate, So
far as maintaining the Piave-Grappa-
Asiago line is concerned. A retreat TO
the Adige now seems almost inevitable
What its effect upon Italian morale and
Italian domestic politics would be is
que tionable, but this is the chief prob
lem. For 10 dispose of Italy is the main