Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-10-29
MAY SEND AID
TOITALIAN ARMY
CONTINUED from First Page.l
Venetian plain and the overrunninG
of Northern Italy.
Driving Wedge

Venetian plain and the overrunning
of Northern Italy.
Driving Wedge
While the whole Isonzo line is in
grave danger, there is also a serious
threat in the Teuton drive to the
Italian line in the Carnie Alps and
even in the Dolomites. north of Bel
luno. Apparently Field Marshal -.'om
Mackensen is endeavoring to drive
a wedge between the armies on the
Carso front and those in the noun
tains northwest of Udine. Some of
the advanced Italian positions in the
fCarnic alps probably have heen
abandoned already. If this should
prove true the Tagliamento river
seems to offer General Cadorna his
! first defensive line unless his armies
stiffen greatly and hold the invaders
within a few miles of their present
positions.
Expect Retirement
Operations carried out by the Bel
gians and French looking toward the
elimination of HouthJIst forest north
of Ypres are progressing favorably.
The entire Merckem peninsula, south
of DiXmude, has been captured by
allied troops who have also taken
Merckem and several other villages
west of the forest. The British hold
the southern side of the forest and Il
continuation of the Belgo-French ad-
vance would make the German po-
sition untenable.
A German retirement between
Warneton and DiXmude to straighten
out the line and eliminate the Hpres
tsalient is not unlocked for in German
military CIRCLES. One leading Ger.
man critic, Major Moraht, says the
front is untenable; and that the Ger
mans will. have to retire to a new
| line. Such a line probably would
run through Menin to Roulers, tG
Thourout and thence to the sea.
Germans Withdraw
On the northern Russian front the
Germans have extended their Win
drawal movement to include the force
der peninsula after the capture OF
Oesel and Moon island at the en-
trance to the Gulf of Riga. This
| landing was viewed at the time as a
threat against Reval, the. Russian
naval base on the Gulf of Finland
and as a possible prelude to even
more extensive land operations by
| the Germans in the direction of Pet
| roSrad.
The withdrawal leaves the Germans
| without foothold on the Esthonlan
coast, attempts by them to follow up
| the original landing by putting troops
ashore at points both north and south
of the peninsula having failed ac-
cording to the Russian reports. There
has been a somewhat prevalent as
sumption, however, that there was
never any intention by the Germans
to push their Riga operations much
beyond the naval stage this fall. the
| view being that the threat against
| the gulf of Finland may well have
been a diversion for political effect
| in Russia or to distract attention
from operations in preparation else
| where.
Artillery Fight Rage
| The artillery battle is being con-
| tinued in Flanders and sections of the
Aisne front and the Verdun region
! In the last named the Germans at
tackled spiritedly last night between
| Chaume wood and BezonvauX, east oi
| the Meuse. and won something more
than 500 yards of advanced trenches
| The French in an immediate counter
attack recaptured the major portion
| OF the lost ground.