The Sentinel=record., 1917-12-25
VIRTUAL INACTIVITY 0N
 ALL BATTLE FRONTS
On the Lower PaVe the Austro Ger mans Have Been Forced to Retreat to the Eastern Bank of the Stream Under Violent Attack by the ltal- ians.
ians

New York, Dec. 24-Christmastide of 1917 finds the armies on all the major battle fronts virtually inactive except where the Teutonic allies are endeavoring to overwhelm the Ital- ians and forced passage through the hill country of northern Italy cut upon the plains of Venetia.
 As viewed from the war maps the battle lines today are markedly changed from those a year ago. The Russian front from the Baltic to the Black sea is virtually nonexistent; the Italians under the intensive drive of the Teutonic allies today are stand ing miles from where they were a year ago along the Isonzo front From Belgium to the region around Verdun great salients have been driven into the German lines by both the British and French armies. and in Asiatic Turkey the British have made mo- table gains both in Mesopotamia and Palestine
 Northward through the latter re- zion General Allenby's forces have made great progress against the Ot- tomans and Christmas of 1917 funds the Christians once more in control of Bethlehem. the birthplace of Christ, and of Jerusalem and the Holy Sepul- chre.
 Although the sound of peace" is in the air, seemingly there is no pros pcct of ending the war at any early date. The Teutonic allies and the Russians are endeavoring to effect a cessation of hostilities in the eastern front and may reach some kind of an agreement that, for the moment at least, will render the counter revolu- tionary forces in Russia inactive and throw a greater burden upon the shoulders of their former allies.
 The enemy for weeks, unofficially, has been proclaiming his desire for peace. but no terms have been ad- vanced by him which would indicate willingness to bring the war to an end along lines that would make the world safe for democracy on the contrary, the German emperor in his latest utteranCes. made before the second army last Saturday boasted of the successes of the Teutonic allies during the last year and eXultantly proclaimed that the victories of the central powers had been so manifest that it was useless GO waste words on the tactical and strategetical advan- tages gained
 Apparently. however, while stren- uous efforts are being made in the United States to get an invincible army in the field to aid Great Britain and France and their allies in finally bringing success to their arms, the German emperor has made final en- deavor in his latest address to his troops to frighten peoples unatrald with the following declaration:
 If the enemy does noi want peace then we must bring peace to the world by battering in with the iron fist and the shining sword, the doors of those who will not have peace
 Meanwhile his armies and those Of his ally. Austria Hungary, finding that their attempts to break the ltal- ian line between the Brent and PiaVe rivers in northern Italy were without result. have shifted the ground of their attack again to the Asiago pla- teau. Here small gains were made but the Italians, stiffening their line held the enemy from further progress and at last accounts were delivering counter attacks against him.
 On the lower Piave river the enemy troops who forced a crossing Of the river of the last week, now have been compelled, under violent attacks by the Italians to seek safety through a retreat to the eastern bank of the ] stream.