The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1917-12-25
lHR ADVERTISERS SEM-wEEKLY
The Week In the War

L
making the mountain passes more than ever diff
cult Of passage, intense cold and extreme discom-
fort were added incentives to the Austro-G erman
forces to redoube their efforts to break through
| the Italian cordons to the Bassano Plains where
il would be possible to establish winter quarters,
avoid the more severe rigors to which they are
now exposed, and from which they might, as occa-
sion offered push on toward their new detectives
| Had the Austro-German succeeded in break
| ing through to Bassano through Brenta Pass and
along the Brenta River, it would have cut the Ital
ian ue so that it must precipitate general retro
grade movement. 1t is indicated that such re-
treat would be long one, the next line of defense
10 be established along the Adige River on the
West and the lower Brenta River or more likely
the Bacchigbone River, on the East, below. Venice.
This would give to the Teutons control of a large
territory and mean the surrender of such import
ant cities as Venice, Padua and Vicenza and other
smaller cities and towns
The drive directly against Venice on the lower
Pave front was a failure from the outset, the
Austro- Germans being driven back over the flood
ed lands with tremendous losses. .aa
With such incentives and with great force of
numbers the Huns succeeded in gaining positions
on Monte Asalone which, if retained, gave them
control of the entrance to the San Lorenzo valley.
To secure these vantage points thousands upon
thousands Of lives had been given and many other
thousands had fallen wounded and MANNED. But
the victory was short lived and the advantage was
not long retained for on Friday the well directed
counters of the Italian forces drove the Teutons
out and back along three mile front to depth
of two thirds OF mile. All the Austro- Germans
had fought for during the earlier days of the week
all that had been gained by the immense human
sacrifices their efforts had entaied, was lost to
them They were back where they had started
at the close OF last week. ~ ~
Desperate fighting has marked the week in the
Italian war theater. Against great odds the Ital-
ians and their Allies resisted every inch Of the way
against the desperate advance which their enemies
launched against them. Doggedly and determn
edy as they resisted they were slowly forced back
only to put forth counters of almost irresistible
violence which fairly swept the Huns from their
feet they were swept back upon and into their
former positions. sA*F'. "r '~Nsg
On this front losses have been by no means con-
fined TO the enemy, the Italians have suffered Sc
verely in their great resistance and subsequent
aggressive but the enemy loss has been excessive
. From the western front the news of the week
has been meager. Reports have told only OF ar
tillery engagements and OF raids that were termed
of minor Importance. Indications are not want
ing however, that this apparent lull has beenI
merely period of preparation and it will not be
unexpected if the world interest in the great war
tragedy shall center in this theater, as it has re-
Gently centered in the Italian border in the very
near future.
Admiralty reports last week telling of the sub
marine losses up to last Sunday showed the Hun
campaign to have been little less successful than
in previous week. AS the drives on the land
seemed to lose in vigor, so was there also indica-
ton of loss of vigor undersea.
Bosheviki leaders appear to have discovered
something of the Independently of the Germans
1t is reported that they have been surprised to
have their cherished peace terms that were to-
prove SO satisfactory to the "proletariat" of the
nations of the world fatty refused by the Central
Powers. Thus, it is said with no instructions to
go further the Bolsheviki commissioners are taxi
ing their goods back home. This is as was ex-
pected and the forecast now is that Germany will
present counter peace proposals using the Bolshe
wiki to give them to the world. What purports tol
be an outline Of such terms was received in diplo-
matte circles in Washington and have been pub
iished. ..:. ~ ...
In Russia the situation becomes more and more
perpleNing to the outside world. The Ukrainans
now enter calculations an important factor but
with many factions in the field it is impossible
to more than venture guesses at the outcome
Canada has returned the government, thereby
giving its support to CONSUMPTION which will now
go forward. On the other hand CONSUMPTION has
been beaten by great majority of the voters in
Australia. Labor conditions in the antipodes are
said to be taking on serious completion and to
have had much to do with the reversal of the
government, for the defeat of its CONSUMPTION
policy was nothing less than reverse X
In this country Investigations of war progress
are going forward both as to the army and the
navy, The congressman DESTROYS to learn of the
progress made and through committees are seek
ing to find out just how effectively plans are being
carried out