Semi-weekly herald., 1917-08-09
WHAT ITALY HAS BEEN
DOING IN THE BIG WAR
lBy John II. Hearley.l

| ROME, August 7.-Italy is just
now approaching the climax of her
power in the great war. Twelve
months have witnessed consolidation
of the Italian war machine, brilliant
advances on all fronts where Italian
soldiers face the foe and fullest util-
ization of the Italian navy's power in
the Mediterranean.
muddled Italian political situation has
apparently settled down, with the re-
cent overwhelming vote of confidence
in the Boselli cabinet. Italy has
learned, probably from England,
the necessity of coordinated, har-
monious prosecution of the war, with
every ounce of her strength.
Most recent of Italy's achievements
were the two offensives in the Carso
and the Trentino.
Goriza fell just year ago and
then Italy turned her eyes toward
Laibach and Trieste. But winter
gripped the fighters before plans ma
terialized. Just before nature inter-
vened to stop the fighting, in Sep
tember, conquered the heights of
Cosmagno in the Adige valley, and
consolidated and widened their posi-
tons on the Pasubio.
This spring General Cardona be-
gan where he left off last fall-but
this time with more powerful often
sive arms-in men, guns and muni-
tions. The whole left bank of the riv-
er and almost the entire rocky pla-
| teau north of Gorilla fell to theil
arms. Between Castaguavizzia and
east of Jamiano they pressed forward
The lower slopes Of Mount Hermada
the guardian of Trieste were con-
quered. Trieste itself is now directly
menaced from bare 12 miles.
| British guns, fired by Canadians
aided the Italians in this great of
fensive and Allied warships in the
gulf of Trieste bombarded the Aus
trian coast positions.
In Trentino, successful offensive
also gained ground for CARDINALS war
riors.
| Official estimates now place the
number of Austrian prisoners held in
Italy at 166,000-and of these at
least $500 were taken in the spring
offensive.
But while Italy has been advancing
into Austria, she has been compelled
gradually to abandon the hinterland
of Tripoitania, Hostile Arab tribes
in the interior, backed by the Ger
man-Turkish forces and money have
forced the retirement of the Italians
to thin line along the coast.
In Albania the Savoyan army now
occupies strip of territory between
the Adriatic and the river Vojussa
to the northwest. Fallona, facing
Brindisi, is the principal Italian
hold.
ltaly's navy has netted or sunk in
the year just passed at least 40 Aus
trian submarines. British "drifters"
have given valuable aid in this work.
The Italian navy is just now cooper
ating effectively with British, Japan
ese and French squadrons in the Med
iterranean to sweep the seas clear of
enemy submarines. King Victor's
sailors have given good account of
themselves in the one important naval
engagement of the year for Italy
that off Cattaro-altho they lost
heavily.
The Italian flying corps, it is esti-
mated, has dropped 75 enemy flyers
in the year. 1t mas carried out fire.
quent raids over Austrian ports, in
cluding Trieste.
| These achievements have cost It.
ally approximately s43,S45, 200, 900 in
year. Nearly $4,000, 100000 of this
was spent on the army and $l16,OOO,-
600 on the navy, The present month
ly cost of the war is close to s225.-
100000. Americas financial aid has
been of great service in helping Italy
to meet this tremendous drain.
The German submarine campaign
has resulted in sky-rocketing living
prices in Italy and in considerable dis
comfort. The situation, however, is
far from serious. The cost of living
is now up nearly GA per cent higher
than before the war. Coal Is almost