Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-10-30

staff, though 1t would be the decisive stroke
against ltaly Tor 1t would, once the Teu-
tons could overcome the resistance of Ca
dorna's forces and reach the lower Adige
valley cut the Isonzo armies from their
lines of communication and supplies and
compel them to withdraw south Of the Po
valley, leaving the whole Venetian plains
and the Eastern Alps in the hands of the
invaders. The season is rather late for
such an extensive operation amid the deep
SHOWS OF the Alps. and 1t Is doubtful If, after
the tremendous concentration of troops and
artillery on the Julian front, the Teutons
can spare nearly half million men and
probably couple Of thousand guns for an
attack from Trent and the Lavarone- Fol-
garia plateau.
General Cadorna therefore can easily,
maneuver by interior lines and transfer
troops and artillery from the Trentino front
TO the line of the Isonzo and stiffen the
resistance against the Austro- German on
rush, II not counter-attack and throw the
invaders back to their former lines, as he
did more than year ago when the Aus
trians had reached almost the gltes of
Nicenza, Cadorna's maneuver at that time
was justly commended as one of the most
daring and perfect enterprises of its kind,
an operation which the commander-in-chief
repeated a few weeks later, with the result
lhat ne conquered the Gorilla bridgehead
which the Austrians were quite sure thew
were able to hold against any attack.
Cadorna's Confidence
The same situation, as to the strategical
possibilities in the present offensive. con-
irohts General Cadorna, He has before
himself the same possibility of maneuverIng
by interior lines, while the Austro German ms
cannot count upon any considerable and
quick assistance from the Trentino sector
ana are compelled to maintain two separate
armies with the disadvantage that should
they be In want Of assistance from Trent
the only railroad connecting the two sec
tors, that running along the upner Draya
Nalley' could effectively be shelled. as n
mas been on several occasions. by italian
neaVy batteries posted, in the vicinity Of
IooIach' Probably even the railroad could
De cut through successful effort to bring
heaVy guns nearer to the Draya oh tbe
Cadore front. '''0
Ihis situation, now favorable TO the ItaI
lahs' probably explains the calm confidence
General Cadorna has shown as TO the ability
OF MS troops to stem the Austro-German
ADVANCE toward the Friuh plains and his
statement that he has the situation well
IN hand Such declaration coming from
man who has constantly refrained from
boasts and blunders, who has even said
less than he ought to when he was an
nouncing victorious operations, is 10 be
taken as a fact.
However. General Cadorna must have
cN''S 0hh france and England
can supply him, and from the tone the
English press has assumed since this Of
fensive was started 1t can be inferred that
he will have both, probably more than he
requires for successful stand II Is not
improbable that we shall see French and
British divisions and masses of artillery
night perhaps the last great battle of the
European war, the decisive one, on the,
Julian front.
: Awakening Of the Allies
The offensives. victorious as they were.
OF the British and the French along the
western front have given the Allies ground
and have worn considerably the Kaiser's
forces, but have not given them a decision
simply because the fighting is going on out
Of German territory, in France or In Bel
gium. and Germany is not losing one inch
Of her own soil So long as the Allies win
in Belgium or in France II matters COM
paratively little whether they conauer. So
long as the German army Is not DESTROYED
a defeat will not alter the situation IN
country like Germany. where the peonie
willingyeo or not are behind their Emperor
But the defeat Of Austria on Austria
territory, In way that threatens Vienna
as Il was threatened in 1877 BY the FIrs,
Consul from semmerlng would cert,lfnlv
bring Austria % terms would provoke 4
revolution N tno dual monarchy. perh.l'.
|n Germany E4|||| and would ~ III
am. ... ....|.|.. L.. ..|... "'''. ||'|