Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-10-27
SIGNIFICANCE OF TEUTON
OPERATIONS ON ISONZO
By ADALBERTo CAPoRALE


The outstanding features of the present
trive against the Italian lines on the Isonzo
pre- the participation of German troops in
he operation and the fact that the Ger
man staff has taken the direction of the
srensive, just as was done in the cases o.
Russia and Rumania What is the pu,
pose OF this participation, from which the
Kaiser had Ostensiby abstained until now?
And above all what is the objective
toward which the Austro Germans are now
ulving at the end of the favorable season
and when comparatively little time is len
y military operations of some Importance?
while 1t Is entirely too early to attempt to
orm an opinion on events which are just
peginning TO develop, It is, however permis-
hlole to make few considerations in order
e explain a situation not cleared UP Dy
me official bulletins.
When General Cadorna achieved, III his
recent drive on the Bainsizza Plateau, a
success which probably went beyond even
.ne expectations of the Italian commander,
became clear that the latter was striving
endangernB the whole defensive line
VI the Nanos, which is the main and most
p'Weriul barrier protecting both Trieste
snd Laibach, by simply trying to turn the
,,uonghold of Tolmino, that is the bridge
AN'hlVu ny lne TWO nelRnlS OF OhilIh
LUCIA and Santa Maria Previous efforts
sxerted by the Italians to take the strong
snd by frontal attacks had failed. There
're General Cadorna attempted to reach
Wv NhlapoVano Valley, not only TO cut one
'he main communication lines or tile Aus
uAns' but also to follow IL, II possible, and
s.eack Tolmino from the rear. TolminO is
w e central pivotal point of the Austrian
ane' ana 1t was clear To both the Austrian
3sNE
Viu was taken or even merely cut Off the
~. OF the system of defense, the whole line.
, VuIu De menaced and probably the Aus
sans Sans would be compelled to withdraw from
present position on the Carso and the
, - slinada the southernmost pillar of the line
al. az order that the Italians might not jeop-
s. the defensive value of Tolmino, il was
.%eeessary that they should be thrown from
rvh.Is DaIhsizza Plateau toward the Isonzo,
snereirom they had started few months
cnoaI "hen they attacked and conquered the
N"s ana the Vodice mountains IL is likely
49, .he Austro-Germans will pursue this
~ Ms'S.Ne CINe In their present drive and that
~ eInnan stan has taken the direction OF
Cerr,ppe peratlons and has sent on the lsonzo
sian troops to cooperate with the Aus
sss hs IN order to achieve quicker results
p,erhaps to restore the morale of the
~ ~ 'ahs which was considerably shaken
rue me recent Italian successes
A. ~ Austro-German operations seem 10
e ufected toward the breaking OF the Ital-
~ adNanced lines on the Isonzo. I'm a sector
s,as the Austrian positions are on the
hsas pahk or the lsonzo River. and the
Il ,s OF the Bainsizza Plateau in order
y so"pel the Italians to withdraw from the
49, ana thus avoid capture or destruction
4, taken between two fires. At this time
ue year when extensive operations on
NJ Alplne theatre seem nearly impossible
~ S'ner objective than this can the German
.u ..au nave In mind unless the Teutons are
i,sipireu TO start drive elsewhere on the
w. ~ front and repeat General Conrad
a - noetEendorff's maneuver which failed
''e early summer OF last year.
IMPORTANCE OF ITALIAN FRONT
a however the German stan may even have
nlhd operations of much greater Inn
sAhce ~ against Italy II has been said or
nt anu ottentimes. that the Italian front
s,,s become. after the nearly complete
e,s,'hation OF the Russian army, the de-
~ front Of the European war, where
y ISSUE would find its ultimate decision.
~ said that the Isonzo Valley might
r starting point of a drive which
-, put Austria out OF the game IL Gen
r,, Saaorna were enabled, through the
~ or guns and munitions and coal from
~ alhes, 10 reach Laibach and capture
f~,.Hte but Il is also possible that the fact
Is'.Np FRANCE and England nave not YET
9.aQ) has been quite we'll understood
NAny and that Won Hindenburg Il