Evening journal., 1917-08-24

hundred thousand to the Russians have
alwavs fought with great courage, des-
peration and determination against the
italians. Actually Italy, by entering the
war, did net largely draw to herself
Austrian troops which could otherwise
have been used against Russia, because
most OF the troops used against Italy
were unreliable In the presence OF Rus
sian armies
The Italian problem has always been
exceedingly difficult because Of the
character Of tho country, and also be-
cause Of the fact that apart from the
few thousand Italian-speahng troops
drawn from the Trieste and Trentine
districts all the Austrian army has
been unit3d in its readiness TO oppose
Italy to the last and to prevent an ex-
tension Of Italian rule to the Slay popu-
lation along the Adfiatic.
irhe italian offensive today Is one or
the most interesting Of the operations
that are now going forward, because il
Is the only one in which there is a
hope-a remote hope, to be sure-of a
possible decision this year. Neither the
French nor The British expect TO pierce
the German llae this year, as they have
that attempted by Nivelle at the Aisne
and like that now attempted by the
Italians at the Isonzo. Apart from Italy,
Allied strategy now rests upon plan
for many swift, short, sharp attacks,
such as we have seen at Nerdun, at
Hill 10, az Messlnes, during the summer.
The italian attack, like the French
and British attack, must also have as
a remoter purpose drawing eff the
pressure upon Russian armies which,
whatever their present condition, are
still in no shape to meet a serious Aus
trO-German drive and will be in no
condition 20 meet such a drive during
the present year
Austria is patiently the weakest mem
ber Of the Central Alliance at the pres
ent time. It is Austria which is clamor-
ing for peace on every possible occa-
sion. II is Austria which is obviously
threatened With a collapse II the war
continues. And in striking Austria the
italians are actually making the most
important military operation Of the
summer. Could they once take Trieste
the moral effect would be beyond ex-
aggeratlon and the achievement would
be the greatest in the history Of mod
ern Italy.
But just as last year the italian at
tack at Gorilla cOincided with the Brit
sh operations on the Somme and the
Russian attacks In Galicia. forming a
part Of a great concentrlc drive at the
besieged Central Powers, so the present
Italian operation plays a part in a new
general attack. The absence Of Russia
from the battle line has restricted the
detectives and greatly diminished the
extent Of possible success. Yet as the
lighting season begins to draw to a
close there Is no mistaking the fact that
the Allies all along the Western front
are fully in possession Of the offensive
and Italy more cOnspicuOusly than at
any time during the war is playing her
part.
SO far there has been no indication
Of an Austrian collapse, although the
number Of prisoners captured is large
measured by the standards Of Western
warfare. But despite the absence OF
sensational details, the Italian operation
is at the moment the most interesting
in Europe, and it suffers mainly in tho
eyes Of the world from the fact that
while Verdun and Ypres are names IA
miliar TO millions and the little Villages
and hills in their neighborhood arr
known from ono end Of the globe T.
the other, the italian scene Of opera
tions remains obscure and public inter
est awakens slowly to a new struggle