Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-25
THE ALLIED OFFENSIVE IS ON
ltaly's Piave Victory Means That the Unified
Army Of Freedom Has Struck Its
Counter. Blow

| INHE Allied offensive has begun. The
extent of the Piave victory may in
crease or its proportions diminish with
the passage of critical days, but acknowl-
edgment that embattled civilization has
started forward increment may none
the less be safely made.
"The present eye,' declares Shake
speare's wise Ulysses, cannier even than
Homer's, "prizes the present object"
Grant that the human vision is thus con-
fined, grant that many rosy prophecies
throughout the war have borne fruit only
in heartaches, and still the deep breath
of relief, the exultant thrill of joy over
Italy's triumph in Venetia cannot be
legitimately withheld.
Moreover, the warrant for our salts
faction is emphatically of different com
pleXion from what it would have been had
King Victor's heroes routed their Aus
trian foes some months ago. Naturally
we would then have rejoiced at Italian
valor. But today, although Italy is the
immediate agent of victory, her deeds
are fraught with new and broader mean
ing.
From the canals of Flanders to the
marshe; of the Venetian lagoons a single
army confronts the barbarians Allu-
sions to British, French, Italian or
American offensives may be compli-
mentary and colorful. but any blow to
the Huns, wherever or ly whomever de-
livered, is actually struck by the cham
pions of freedom as a whole against the
common menace.
There is a vacation time for some war
prophets at hand. Speculations as to
when the Allied offensive would begin
have suddenly become superfuous. The
advance is already under way. It's ter
rain happens to be northern Italy, and
there are many reasons for believing
that, whether by foresight or chance no
m ore favorable grouni could have been
chosen.
1t is indeed entirely possible that
progress beyond the Piave may change
the whole course of the war and perhaps
shorten it by many months.
More than a year ago, with the acqui-
sition of Laibach, a definite objective of
Italian warfare beyond Gorilla, it was
the conviction of King Vctor's army
that the crushing of Austria was the
quickest way to peace. The lack of a
unified Allied command and the scken-
ing 5ucces3 of the Hun propaganda cam
paign on the Carso dashed these bright
hopes, but with the new unity and the
superb recovery of Italy's morale they
are alive again and gleaminr with
vivid luster.
War is game in which the discovery
and attack Of weak spots is the prime
consideration. Foch himself played it
gloriously at La Fere Champenoise, thus
instituting his successful faction of dis
location against Kluck's army, which
was threatening Paris. Napoleon used
the Same cards throughout his career,
and IT is significant that Austria felt the
force of some of his most brilliant
trumps. Wagram and Ulm are sufficient
testimony of their effectiveness.
And now once again Vienna is the
capital of an insecure empire. Perhaps
the plight of the dual monarchy has been
exaggerated. Perhaps some of the tales
of unrest and starvation which have come
from Austria Hungary may be part of
spired by Germany.
None the less, there are authentic
signs which cannot be discounted. Aus
tria has no real objects for prosecuting
the war today. They are only Ger
many's, and that a nation bullied into
continuing war for another's gain is a
"weak spot is surely indisputable.
Italy has long insisted on this argu-
ment. Today the whole great league of
which she is part gives it credence. Past
Laibach the road to Vienna offers few in
superable military obstacles. There is
even chance that great army sweep
ing into Carnthia might, find a road for
redemption of the Balkan States.
The possibilities of such an advance on
a large scale are so tremendous that the
mind hesitates to grasp them. Wariness
of illusions is advisable, even on the Crest
of victory. Nevertheless it is hard not
to be convinced that the way to peace has
not been considerably shortened by the
great events of the last nine days.
Rome, which held the whole civilized
world in peace longer than any other
nation in history, is celebrating victory.
In spite of what the future may have in
store for us the omen is significant. The
tide has turned.