Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-25
SOME AGREEMENT IN EAST
SOON MAY BE REACHED
Germans Again Shift Ground of
Their Attack to Asiago
Plateau.
FAIL TO BREAK ITALIAN LINE
Small Gains Made, but Defenders
Deliver Successful Coun-
tcrattacks.
ley Associated rress.l

Christmastide of 1911 finds the
armies on all the major battle fronts
virtually inactive. except where the
Tcutonc allies are cndcavorinE TO
ovcrwhelm the Italians and force Il
passage through the hill country OF
Northern italy out upon the plains OF
Venetia
AS viewed from the war maps. the
battle lines to-day are markedly
changed from those of the ycstcryear.
The Russian front from the Baltic to
the Black Sea is virtually noneXistent:
the Italians, under the intensive drive
Of the Teutonic allies, are standing
miles from where they were a year
ago along the 1sonzo front: from Bel
sium 10 the region around Vcrdun
great salicnts have been driven into
the German lines by both the British
and the French armies, and in Asiatic
Turkey the British have made notable
gains. both in Mesopotamia and Palcs-
tine.
Northward through the latter region
General Allenbys forces have made
great progress against the Ottomans,
and Christmas of 1917 finds the Chris
tians once more in control OF Bcthlc-
hem, the birthplace OF Christ, and Of
Jerusalem and the holy sepulchcr.
MEANS GREATER BURDEN
ON SHOULDERS OF ALLIES
Although the sound Of peace" Is In
the air. seemingly there is no prospect
of ending at any early date the titanic
struggle that Is in progress. The Teu-
tonic allies and the Russians are en-
deavoring to effect q cessation of .hos-
Utilities on the eastern front and prob
ably will reach some Kind OF an agree
ment that, for the moment at least.
will render the counter-rcvolutionary
forces i'm Russia inactive and throw
greater burden upon the shoulders OF
their former allies.
The enemy for weeks. unonicialiy.
has been proclaiming his desire for
ncacc. but no terms have been ad-
vanccd by him which would indicate
"A Willingness to bring the war to an
end along lines that would make the
world ''safe for democracy" On tho
contrary. the German Emperor, in his
latest uttcrance, made before tho Sec
ond Army last Saturday. boastcd OF
the successes of the Teutonic allies
during the last year and cXultantly
proclaimed that tho victories of tho
central powers had been so manifest
the tactical and stratcgical advantages
gained
Apparently, how ever while strenuous
efforts are hcins mado in tho United
states to get an invinciblo army in
the field to aid Great Britain and
France and their allies in finally bring
ing success to their arms. the German
Emperor has made final cndcavor in
his latest address to his troops to
friEhtcn peoples unafraid, with the
following declarations:
"if the enemy does not want peace,
then VIC must bring peace to the world
by hattcrns i'll. 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 Italian line
between tho Brenta and Piavc Rivers,
in Northern Italy. were without result.
have shifted the ground OF their at
tack again To the AsiaSo Plateau.
Here small gains were made, but the
lta lians. stifIcninS their line, held the
enemy from further progress, and Al
las; accounts were delivering SUCCESS
tul rountcrattacks against him. ON
tho lower Fiavc River the enemy
troops. who forced crossing of the
river last week, now have been COM
PEELED under violent attacks by the
Italians. to seek safety through a re-
treat TO the eastern bank.
Another hcartcnins phase OF the
situation is the small number Of Brit
ish casualties during the past week. On
inc entire front held by tho British
only 1928 casualties were reported.
these embracing men killed, wounded
or missing. The previous week had
shown an aggregate OF 1875 and the
week before that 23,3o6.