The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-10-27
The War For the Week

For the first time in many weeks
the Allies have suffered a severe de-
feat in the west-not against the
French or British. but against the
Italians.
The lighting Of the summer and
fall months in tbs West has been al
most continuous record Of vic
tories for the British. French and
Italians. The Russian reyerses have
had little significance. for the AL
lies no longer count on Russia as
a factor except insofar as the i'm
mense battlefront keeps a certain
number Of Austrian and German
divisions inactive. Germany seems
content to let the Russian situation
remain a deadlock. except when she
needs victory" to stir the enthus-
iasm of the people at home. when she
takes another bite into Russian ter
ritory.
10 Hard Blow.
But the Importance Of the Italian
reverse cannot be minimized. 1t Is a
hard blow to the Allies, and puts a
damper on hopes that were enter
tanned as a result Of the campaign Of
General Cadorna, The Italians. ap-
parentIy had overcome the great
natural barrier that separated them
from Austria. They had all but cap
tured the gate that would permit
them to pour through on to the
plains of Austria. 1t was a critical
situation. Italy has the biggest sur
plus Of men Of any Of the belliger-
ents with the exception Of Russia.
She has been unable to use all Of
her electives, because Of the DIM
cult ground over which the fighting
was taking place. Once they were
through the gate. however, Austria
would have been forced to use
double or triple the number Of men
to hold the Italian armies. Trieste
was no longer the aim. but Vienna
itself, and the further advance Of the
Italian army would have cut the Aus
trian forces in two. unless the south
ern army retired from Trieste and
the shore Of the Adriatic.
Menace To Back Door.
It was a serious situation, and
Germany was brought to realize the
menace to her back door. The Aus
trian army was reinforced with di-
visions brought from the Russian
front, with German reserves and
with generous supplies OF German
gun and munitions. A tremend-
Gus attack was launched on the
north flank of the Italians, and
they were caught with their backs to
the Isonzo river. a dangerous situa-
ton If a retreat is necessary. The
attack prevailed and the Italians
were forced to relinquish most of
the positions they had gained in sew
eral months Of hard fighting.
The German victory was but an
other evidence of the immense ad-
vantage the Central Empires have in
the matter Of transportation. Since
the beginning of the war this han
dicap has permitted them to meet
vastly superior forces, since they
are able to concentrate their reserves
on any point OF the iron ring sur
rounding them. They can strike at
any one point before the Allies can
concentrate troops to meet them, and
they are in turn, able to anticipate
any blown from the Allies and pre-
pare to meet 1t.
The Alternating Drive.
without attempting to make light
Of the Italian disaster, the successes
OF the French and British in Flanders
and on the Aisne offset 1t. Haig and
Petain are striking alternate blows
on the German line which promise to
bring about a new strategic retreat"
on a scale much greater than that
which followed the Somme last
year. 1t may not come for weeks or
perhaps until next spring, but it