Le MeschaceÌbeÌ. [volume] ([Lucy] La.) 1853-1942, 1918-05-11
ACTIVITY SHOWN ON
The ITALIAN FRONT
VAST MOVEMENT OF TROOPS RE-
PORTED IN TYROL AND TREN-
TINO IN REAR OF LINES.
AUSTRIA FACING CRISIS
Believed That Political and Economic
Unrest in Dual Monarchy Is Cause
of Pending Offensive
Against Italy.

Over the battle lines along the
PiaVe River and in the mountainous
region in Northern Italy, where the al
lied forces have been holding their po-
sitions since last November after the
great Italian retreat from the Isonzo,
there is increased tension and the
iong-threatened blow at this froEt may
be launched by the Teutonic allies
within a few days. For many weeks
| the Italian war office had been aware
| that Austrians have been assembling
the legiOns withdrawn from Russia
| and ROumanian fronts for a drive at
the Italian armies, and it believes it
will not be long before the central
| powers will make another attempt to
| reach the plains of Trentino, break
| through the allies lines and seek to
| bring about decisive combat in that
theater of the war.
Emperor Charles of Austria, accom-
panied by his chief of staff, and high
| German and Austrian army officers, is
reported on the Italian front, and the
great movement of troops in Tyrol
and Trentino would seem to indicate
that vast bodies Of men are being
taken from other fronts ito be hurled
at the Italian positions.
The blow, it is generally believed,
will fall somewhere in the mountain
Gus country in the Lagarina and Astf.
co vallies. The decision to launch
an offensive of grand proportions in
Italy was doubtless forced by political
and economic conditions prevailing in
Austria. An offensive campaign that
yields gains of ground might serve
to still the elements which are seeth-
ing throughout the duel empire.
German domination of Austria is
becoming more complete as time goes
on. Tyrol and Bohemia have been an
nexed for food administration pur-
poses to Germany, but this movement
IN the great game of statecraft has
served only to deepen the chasm be-
tween the racial factions of Austria.
III 1AS I4CGAII14Og LuS SILudIIUu Oh
the front in France and Flanders has
remained fairly quiet. There have
been local attacks by the Germans
here and there along the line, but
nothing approaching a general battle
has been reRorted.
Pope Benedict has served notice on
the world that the Vatican will not
be party to any peace offensive"
at the present time. 1t is believed
that Berlin will seek to bring about
q German peace" and if its advances
are repulsed, to nerve the German
people to new bath of blood" by
pointing out that the entente allies
desire to crush Germany. Pope Bene-
dict has let it be known that he is
1esirous of taking any step which may
end to shorten the war, but he does
1ot see at the present moment any
'eason to believe that an appeal would
BRING about desired results.
During the last three days the Amer
can artillery in the Luneville sector
las completely chased the Germans
rom their front positions and has
wiped certain sections of the targets
n the enemy rear area off the map.
The Germans have entirely aban.
loned the territory at least as far
Jack as a point beyond their second
inc.
The only signs that they are there
t all are few hidden machine gun
'ositions which cut loose when the
offers.
The sections affected by the work
t these American artillery men are
he lines south, southwest and south.
ast of HalleVille.
The American raiders have found
hat the shells had worked terrific
ayoe at many places where the big
rojectiles from the heavy guns had
allen
While Americas plans for throw.
lg her every resource into the battle
gainst Prussianism are maturing the
III over the western battle lines con.
nues. The expected German attacks
. the Ypres and Amiens fronts have
OF been launched. Here and there
le opposing artilleries have broken
nth into wild bombardments such as
'ually are preludes to massed attacks
the allied lines, but they have died
IL after few hours. Here and there
cal operations have been carried out
T the purpose of Strengthening lines
10 raldlng the enemy's position. but
ey have not developed into anything
usual