Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-10-27
ITAL IAN ASSAULT
TO BE LAST FIGHT
is LONDON'S BELIEF

~ EONbOV ~ OGEiGt
London. Oct. 27-Germany with the
help of Austro-Hungary is today max
ing what may prove to be her SUI
preme and last effort OF the whole
war
The stupendous operation against
Italy is developing into a campaign
of the first magnitude and far-reaching
results, even affecting vitality the sit
uation on the western front, are
possible.
There are indications that the kais-
err is stalking all on the blow and that
the plans of the German general staff
include a desperate effort to break
through the Italian front. oyerrun the
Italian plain and invade France from
the south. thus getting in the rear Of
the French armies.
That the initial phase of the Aus
tro German offensive has been success
full is not disputed by the Italian war
Office for the admission is made in
Rome dispatches that the Italians at
some points on the Isonzo front, have
withdrawn within their own frontier
and that fighting is in progress on
Italian soil in that region for the first
time since Italy entered the war
against her former allies.
II is about 40 miles from the wes-
tern border of Austria-Hungary to the
southern frontier of France. If the
the powerful German and Austro-
Hungarian armies are able 10 continue
their progress between Flitsch and
Gorilla, it would compel realign.
ment of the Italian front and compel
a retirement from their present po-
sitions in the Alps to avoid being cut
off entirely.
II, as the present developments in
dictate, the German high command
really intends a serious effort for the
invasion of southern France, it is I'M
doubleday based upon desire to de
liver crushing stroke in the west
before the Americans can get fully in.
to action.
Military experts are watching with
intense interest the next move in the
general action developing on the Ital-
ian front. For three days the Austro-
German armies have been pressing
forward and according to the German
war Office, have captured more than
10000 prisoners including over 700
officers and between 800 and 400 guns.
men in London and Paris
have the utmost cofidence in General
Cadorna, the Italian commander in
chief, but 1t is admitted that serious
obstacles stand in his way. The Ital-
ians were not taken by surprise when
he Teutons began their offensive, but
they evidently under estimated the
size of the armies that Germany was
throwing into the fray.
Won Hindenburg has taken every
available soldier from the eastern
front, for the Italian campaign, Every
gun that could be spared from the
western and Balkan fronts was trans
ported to the Italian theatre OF war.
When all was ready and the prepar-
ations were under way, for more than
six months before the first infantry at
tack was launched the Teutons struck
fiercely between Flitsch and Tolmino,
following it up with assaults on the
Bainsizza Plateau Forcing a crossing
OF the lsonzo near Tolmino the
Teuton hordes drove forward with
might and main and General Cadorna.
seeing the rear of his second army
menaced began withdrawing from
Balnsizza and the strategic mountain
fortress adjoining It,
The Germans employed the same
strategic they had used so often in the
east against Russia and Roumania.
Regardless of Losses, men were pour
ed into a front of 30 miles under ord
ers to go forward or die trying.
The Titanic stuggle which develop
ed Is still in progress and the Italians
are making a valiant stand against
the invaders.