The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-26
IN A final EFFORT
TeutOns in Supreme Attempt
To Get On to Plains.
Fear That Winter VIII Check
All Big Operations.
BY HENRY WOOD.

With the French Armies in Italy.
Dec. 26-The Teutons are making their
last supreme effort to reach the Vene-
tial4 plains today, before winter irrev-
ocably checks all operations
Since Saturday General Conrad's
Austrians have been battering I'M
ceasingly against the italian lines. It
is confidently expected his assault,
west of the Brenta, will be followed
quickly by new assaults by Generals
Krauss and Below, east of the same
river-particularly around Monte
Grappa where the Austro-G Germans
are now freshly concentrating
The battle. as thus developing, will
decide whether the Italians will be
able to maintain their present posi-
tons until spring. Snow and ice are
al ,eady checking offensive possibili-
ties thru all the mountain region. The
winter nevertheless continues unsea-
sonably open. As yet there is no sign
of heavy snow having fallen in the
mountains. Yet the passes are grad
ually being covered with mantle suf-
ficient within a week or ten days more
to check the enemy's operations
Already snowfall has cqrtailed the
bringing up of food to such an extent
that the enemy has been forced to
substitute four massed attacks, the
gency rations.- These forces fight I'm
til relieved by others like themselves
carrying equipment for four days
service.
eliminating Stroke.
The fighting today is the culmi-
mating decisive stroke of the past two
months operations. The credit to date
is with the Italians in the struggle.
Enemy prisoners unanimously declare
the vigorous Italian resistance has al
ready forced the Teutonic staffs to
abandon their original plan to estab-
lish military and political front from
Trent to Venice. They are contenting
themselves now with the mere hone of
reaching the Venetian plains before a.
defeat-and by defeat they mean the
necessity OF a winter campaign in the
ice and SnoW-covered SUBMITS of the
Alps.
The allies are determined not to per
NIT the Austro-G Germans even TO reach
the dominating submits of Asiago and
Grappa- The Austro- German decision
TO accept their present front for the
whole winter has been further indi-
Gated by their feverish fertilization of
the Pave into a permanent front
while all offensive efforts are concen-
trated against Grappa to improve per-
manent positions there.
Courage of Italians.
The resistance of the italian first
army at Asiago equals that exhibited
by the fourth army in its recapture of
Asolone last week. These two exam
pies of splendid courage and fighting
| ability give allied offices the highest
hope of the italian ability to pin down
the enemy to his present positions.
But even should the Austro-Ger-
mans succeed in descending to the
| plains from the mountains, they will
l find themselves faced by. divisions
aching for an opportunity to smash
the enemy back to his mountain fast
nesses.
| The tenacity of the Teuton assault
against Monte Grappa resembles strik-
! 1ngIy the German assault on Verdun
| German prisoners declared this is to
| be explained in the German staff's
| opinion that Grappa constitutes the
/ Achilles heef' of Italy, at which next
spring the Austro- Germans hope to
| deliver a fatal drive