Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-11-23


of-the Piave river, the Italian armies
there put up so determined a fight
against the invading Austro-Germans
that the advance of the enemy was for
the time at least effectually checked.
At several points on the lower Piave
the Teutons broke across the river, but
in such small force that the result was
not serious. The reorganization of the
Italians went on rapidly, and supplies
n re-enforcements were hurried
south by the British and French. Sew
eral British batteries were first to ar
rive and these went into action at
once On the river bank, heartening up
the Latins immensely. OF course it
will be some time before British and
French troops In large numbers can
get to the Italian front, and meanwhile
General Diaz must endeavor to hold
the river line with his W men. This
line, Joining that of the Trentino front
In the mountains, is the shortest the
Italians "a establish, and its greatest
danger seems to be in the region of
Lake Garda. If 1t is broken or out
fanked, probably the defenders will
have to fall back to the Adige or even
the Pc, and Venice will be captured.
All the movable art treasures of
Venice, Yicenza and Treyiso have
ticipation of that event.
The Italian situation continues
grave, but at the opening of the Ital-
Ian parliament or Wednesday there
was not a single note of despair nor a
word of anything but resistance SO long
as a man remained standing. The SEN
ators and deputies reported that the
people of their districts were firm in
their support of the government. If
this attitude is maintained, the Teu-
tonic invasion is a failure.
No More Peace Talk Now.
= One effect of the thrust against
Italy is the almost utter cessation of
peace talk In Germany. The belief
has been revived that Germany can, by
arm, force her will upon the rest of
the world, and need not make any con-
cessions to her enemies.
OF curse while the Germans think
thus, there Is no use of any one even
thinking of peace, for the leaders of
he allies have not the slightest doubt
that they can eventually defeat Ger
many. The American congressional,
party that has been visiting the war
zone has been impressed with the prev
alence of this belief, and imbued with
confidence that Prussian militarism can
and will be beaten by pure force, re-
CARELESS of the exhaustion of the CEN
trail powers. They realize fully the
tremendous task ahead of us, but face
1t without fear Of the outcome.
Confusion Worse COMPOUNDED.
If anyone outside Of Russia knows
just what has been going on within
the borders of that distracted country
lately, he has kept 1t to himself. Ger
tainly civil war has been raging In
~Petrograd, Moscow and other places,
the rebellious Bolsheviki and the
Kerensky Supporters fighting fiercely
for control, and other factions taking
a hand in the general ruction. The
Cossacks, as was expected, supported
Kerensky and other divisions of the
army changed their allegiance several
times. The Baltic fleet apparently
stood by the rebels. The latter set
up a government with Lenine as pre-
mier, but signified their willingness to
retire both Lenine and Trotzky If a
compromise could be arranged, insist
ing, however, on compliance with their
main program, which has to do chiefly
with agrarian reforms.
Among the latest ~cablegrams from
P%etrograd was one stating positively
that the Cossacks and Kerensky had
been signally defeated neal the cap
ital, that Gatchina and Tsarskoe-Selo
had been recaptured by the soviet
troops and that a coalition govern
ment would be the probable outcome.
Russian officers In Finland ave out
the story that Siberia had declared its
independence and proclaimed Nicholas
Romanoff, the deposed car, as en-
peror.
More Americans Wounded In France.
The trenches occupied by the Amer
lean soldiers In France were subjected
to heavy Smelling last week and a num-
Der of United States soldiers were
severely wounded. The American
artillery replied continuously and eff
fectively, and the American sharp
shooters, close to the enemy lines, did
especially good work. One night, with
help of some Frenchmen, a body
Of Sammies went out into mo Mans