, 1917-11-22

of the Piave river, the Italian armies
there put up so determined n fight
against the invading Austro-Germans
that the advance of the enemy was for
the time at least effectually checked.
At several points on the lower PiaVe
the TcutonS broke acroSS thp.river. hut
in such small force that the result was
not serious. The reorganization of The
Italians went on rapidly, and supplies
and re-enfOrcements were hurried
south by the British and French. Sew
eral British batteries were first TO ar
rive and these went into action mt
once on the river bank, hearteninS up
the Latins immensely. OF course it
will be some time before British and
French troops in large numbers can
get TO the italian front, and meanwhile
General DiaZ must endeavor to hold
the river line with his own men. This
line, Joining that of the Trentino front
in the mountains, is the shortest the
Italians can establish. and its greatest
danger seems to he in the region of
Lake Garda. If it is broken or out
i"hhNhf IN opdbiN lIt utltIlutIS Will
have to fall back to the Adige or even
the Pc, and Venice will be captured.
All the movable art treasures of
Venice, Vicenza and Treviso have
been taken to places of safety in an
ticipation of that event.
The italian situation continues
grave, but at the opening of the Ital-
Ian parliament on Wednesday there
was not a single note of despair nor n
word of anything but resistance so long
as a man remained standing. The SEN
ators and deputies reported that the
people of their districts were firm in
their support of the government. If
this attitude is maintained, the leu
tonic invasion is a failure.
No More Peace Talk Now.
One effect of the thrust against
Italy is the almost utter cessation of
peace talk in Germany. The belief
has been revived that Germany can, by
ARM, force her will upon the rest of
h world, and need not make any. con-
cessions TO her enemies.
OF course while the Germans think
thus, there is no use of n one even
thinking of peace, for the leaders of
the allies have not the slightest doubt
that they can eventually defeat Ger
many. The American congressional
party that has been visiting the war
zone has been impressed with the prey
alence of this belief, and imbued with
confidence that Prussian militarism can
and will be beaten by pure force, re-
CARELESS of the exhaustion of the CEN
trial powers. They realize fully the
tremendous task ahead Of us, but face
1t without fear Of the outcome.
Confusion Worse COMPOUNDED.
If anyone outside Of Russia knows
just what has been going on within
the borders of that distracted country
lately, he has kept it to himself. Ger
talnly civil wal has been raging in
P~etrOgrad, Moscow and other places,
the rebellious Bolshevlki and the
kerensky supporters fighting f~ercely
for control, and other factions taking
a hand in the general ruction. The
Cossacks, as was expected, supported
Kerensky and other divisions of the
army changed their allegiance several
times. The Baltic fleet apparently
stood by the rebels. The latter set
up "A government with Lenine as pre-
mier, but signifed their willingness TO
retire both Lenine and Trotzky If a
compromise could be arranged, insist
ing, however, on compliance with their
main program, which has to do chiefly
with agrarian reforms.
Among the latest %cablegrams from
Petrograd was one stating positively
that h Cossacks and Kerensky had
been signally defeated near the cap
ital, that Gatchina and Tsarskoe-Selo
had been recaptured by the soviet
troops and that a coalition govern
ment would be the probable outcome.
Russian officers in Finland gave out
the story that Siberia had declared its
independence and proclaimed Nicholas
Romanon, the deposed car, as en-
peror.
More Americans Wounded in France.
The trenches occupied by the Amer
lean soldiers in France were subjected
to heavy Smelling last week and n num-
Der of United States soldiers were
severely wounded. The American
artillery replied continuously and eff
fectively, and the American sharp
shooters, close to the enemy lines, did
especially good work. One night, with
the help of some Frenchmen, a body