El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-12-10

HE arrival Of the British and French troops the
Italian front and the certainty that the forces OF the
allies will be immensely strengthened in the next few
months together with the further fact that the Austro-
esn offensive is bound to stop of winter
weather making broad operations too difficult makes 1t
certain that allied offensive that front viii take place
next spring AustTo-GeTmans may make some Iurhr
gains this winter but the end is at hand An offensive
cannot be conducted without lines Of communication un1
tuptedy open mountain passes to the north soon
VIII be Obstructed by as to make movements slow
Furthermore the mountains the AsagO region where
operations being conducted viii be too snow
ciogged action Then the AustroGermans must marx
during the winter and in the meantime the allies viii
be png up and material for an offensive OF their own
at the proper time.
This will give the allies an opportunity to repeat the
capaign of Napoleon many readers realize that this
vrv ground over which Italians and the Austans and
Germans have been fighting is the very over which
brilliant campaign Italy the IN which the great
captain Of war shone at his best 49,
The situation facing Napoleon in the Frui plain in 1877
was similar that facing Gen. count CadoTna IN 1915
when the Italian general undertook the first offensive
poeon the archduke Charles of Austria holding the
Tagaento line instead Of the IsOnzO The Taghamento
line is familiar to because this was Cadornas trst
stopping point for defence pending reorganization Of his
forces after the disaster Of the IsOnzo.
Back to Napoleon To secure his left flank the
Tagamento Napoleon JOube up the AdigO river to
drive the Austrian corps under Davdovch the Bren
uer Pass and then after forcing crossing the Taga
euto he went straight gap between the Carnic and
Tsn Abs marching with great 1apidty the Pontafel
Pass and thence through Jarvis and Vach to Leobe1
where by threatening to march on Vienna he compelled
treaty Of Campo For1niO.
Allowing for changes IN tactical conditions, Italian
offensive in this direction properly supported by allied
troops ought be practicable in the spring Of 1918 as
IN March of 1897.
OF course it is easy to say what ought to have been
Nothing can be done facley than to pick flaws IN
what done and Is past Nor IS the time to ccse
the strategy of Cadona But is the time to point out
that If the allies had possessed supreme council with
ctatora powers at the time Cadorna began his offensive
with Trieste its object, his objective might have been
changed and his campaign more successful
When Cadorna began his drive at the Isonzo line mill
rv observers It for granted he would follow the
ample of Napoleon and strike for Viach to sever commu-
icaons between the Austans at Labach and the Germans
coming over Bremen Pass and making use Of the Puster
Thai railway for purposes Of concentration
Cadorua did make bid for Viach indeed but, finding
ms way blocked by the guns of Maborghetto he did not
nv to blast his way through Had supreme military cou
I planned drive the requisite forces undoubtedly would
have been put at his disposal to break through
But under the circumstances Cadorna undoubtedly did
what seemed the only thing to do. He drew back his troops
10 the PontafeI Pass where they remained to watch the
-Udne-Venice railway while he fighting his
srduous v along the Carso plateau toward Trieste Even
50 he crossed the IsonEo river stomed the city Of Gorza
and swept to the Bansizza plateau and was IN far
av 10 drive wedge between the Ausrlans to the east
and north those the south, solang Trieste and
Pola wher warned Of the impending enemy concentration
against him Then he had to stop and prepare to resist
the blow He sent word to the allies Of what coming
and requested guns and ammunition They did not come
ctors to conduct the war undertook the response
bity seeing that far off Italy supplied Then the
lack Of munitions coupled with the DISCRIMINATION OF the
Second army induced by insidous enemy propaganda en-
abled the enemy 10 pierce the IsOnzO line. The rest is
history Napoleon pointed the way to Italian success II