The Butte daily post., 1917-11-12
RESULT OF GEN. CADORNAS BATTLES IN ITALY
OF VITAL INTEREST TO EVERY TRUE AMERI(AI
BY BASIL NJ. MANLY.

Washington, D. C.-The cable dis
patches from Italy for the next two
weeks will carry the most important
news Americans have read since We
| declared war in the opinion Of au-
thorities in Washington.
1t is hard for the peaceful. easy
going American citizens to realize. but
it is true. that the manner Of life of
every man, woman and child in the
United States. for years to come, the
sacrifices they will be called upon 10
make the number even who will lie
called upon to give up their lives in
the nations service, IS at this very
minute being determined. $500 miles
away, by Italian troops.
Only two battles of the war--the
Marne and Verdun-equal the present
struggle in Importance.
There are three great turns which
this decisive battle may take. each OF
which is fraught with enormous con-
sequences.
First Cadorna's army may be
crushed. Italy overrun and cut to
pieces.
Second. CadornR's troops, which are
reported to be making an orderly re-
treat may be able to stop Mackensen's
drive by holding the prepared posi-
tions until the French and British have
time to rush big guns, ammunition and
troops from the western front.
Third, Mackensen, in the ardor Of
pursuit may outrun his lines Of COM
mnnication, just as Won Kluck did in
the drive toward Paris and give Ca
dorna chance to administer a defeat
comparable In many elements to the
battle Of the Marne.
In a week or two we shall know
which of these turns the battle will
take. Let us, therefore see inst what
the Dig effects of each of these possi-
Bile eventuaIities on the progress Of the
war ana our own plans will be.
We might as we'll face the blackest
chance rirst II Mackensen crushas
Cadorna. overruns Italy and destroys
her effectiveness as a fighting nation.
every American must steel himself for
prolonged war, In which the United
states VIII have TO spend hundreds Of
thousands OF lives and billions of dol
lars before Germany can be crushed.
! with Italy crushed, the Austrian
submarines operating from the Dali
matian coast, which have for more
than year been held under control by
the Italian navy would again resume
their activity in the Mediterranean
{ The transport line that supports the
, allied army at SaIoniki couId then he
maintained only with the greatest dif-
ficulty.
To maintain this transport line and
project the ships carrying grain and
cotton from Egypt and the east. Brit
am would be forced to Increase greatly
her rorce OF destroyers and patrols In
the Mediterranean and by 40 much
weaken her Atlantic patrol. with grave
menace to trans-Atlantic shippinR
With Italy crushed or a,;v.r ;rto
the plains of the peninsula Germany
would be free to transfer hu-, MN, :.
oets o. eHecuve troops to the Russian
anu nuha man fronts. and push her
oonaoes's there to the point where she
~ouio cease TO be menaced from tina,
direction, leaving Britain. France and
the United States to be met win aug.
menteo forces on the strongly in
trenched western front
III cadorna, however, can stop the
Germans on the faliamento river. OF
any mmnar series Of prepared IN
trenchments. until the allies can BRING
strong reinforcements. 4 may be pos.
s'pie 70 inffict such heavy Yossea on the
massed Austro-derman troops that h
VIII be victory gained at 4 cc.f =.
dear as the early advances AZ vara,n
X finally, cadorna, in some vav
wnicn cannot now be foreseen anv