Middletown transcript., 1917-11-17

zone of military operations all terri
tory north and east Of the Pc and
Mincio rivers, so he may consider the
possibility Of carrying his retreat
much farther than the Piave. Wheth-
er this will be necessary evidently de-
pends on the speed with which France,
Great Britain and America can get
men, guns and supplies to the Italian
front. Guns and supplies especially
are called for by the Italians.
The victory of the Germans in Italy
will be far from complete unless they
can capture Venice. The German COM
manders already have hinted that they
will attack that city from the air, and
naval operations against it are more
than possible in the immediate future.
AS was said before, the invasion
served to bring about swift union OF
all factions in Italy, and the govern
ment, while realizing the extreme grav-
ity of the situation, is confident that
the enemy will fail to accomplish their
military object as they have their po-
litical object. The Italian armies are
maintaining order and discipline and
are cheerful, and the rear guards are
fighting valiantly to retard the ad-
vance Of the Teutons.
AS in Russia, formerly, SO in Italy,
the farther the invaders penetrate, the
more dangerous becomes their own po-
cifiny, Thnxy from
their bases of supply, and must rebuild
the lines of communication destroyed
by the Italians in their retreat. Ca
dorna, on the other hand, gains the
protection of rivers larger than the
Tagliamento, of many canals and of
numerous railroads that are able to
furnish all the transportation his con-
tracted front needs.
British Gain PasschendaeIe Ridge.
Sir Douglas Haig's periodical drive
in Flanders, which is becoming reg
ular weekly feature, accomplished
most important results last week,
when the Canadians succeeded in TAX
ing the village of Passchendaele and
the ridge of the same name which
dominates the country to the east. The
drive was made under most adverse
conditions, the ground being flooded
by torrential rains, but the British bar
rage fire was perfect and the infantry
followed it so closely that the Germans
in their concrete dugouts and pill
boxes were stormed before they had
time to get into action. This advance
brought Roulers under the guns Of the
British, and their aviators also began
bombing that town with deadly effect.
Following up the retiring crown
princes army north of the Aisne, the
French reached the south bank of the
Ailette, but the Germans maintained
their line on the other side of that
stream by heavy and continuous ar
tillery fire. Elsewhere on the French
front all enemy attacks were success
fully repulsed.
General Allenby reported that his
troops in Palestine advanced beyond
Beersheba with splendid dash and en-
durance and that on Wednesday he
captured GAIA from the Turks.
American Patrol Boat Torpedoed.
The German U-boats found one
American victim in the patrol boat
Alcedo, which was torpedoed and sunk
in British waters, going down in four
minutes after being struck. Lieut..
John T. Melvin and 20 men were lost.
The Alcedo was formerly the private
yacht Of G. w. Childs Drexel Of Phila-
delphia. She carried a crew of seven
officers and 85 men. The American
merchant steamship Rochester also
was destroyed by torpedo, at least
four men losing their lives. An Amer
ican freighter arriving at an Atlantic
port reported that her gun crew sank
a German submersible that attempted
to torpedo her in the Mediterranean.
In general. the U-boats had a poor
week, the British admiralty report
that only eight British yes
sells Of more thap 1000 tons had been
sunk, and four smaller vessels. This
is the smallest number Of victims for
any week since unrestricted submarine
warfare began.
Won Her-ling May Not Last.
Count Won Hertling isn't likely to
be German chancellor for very long,
for unless he yields to the demands
of the radicals, they intend to intro
duce a resolution of lack of confidence
as soon as the reichstag reconvenes
on November %. The count seems to
have fallen under complete control of
the militaristS and junkers and is now
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over $4,000 communal schools and