The sun., 1918-10-06

Serbia's heroic efforts in the war also
show the effect of German unity OF COM
mand. The successes which Serbian
troops achieved against Austrian forces
formed one Of the unexpected develop
ments Of the early military operations.
On several occasions it looked as If re-
salts of far reaching importance might
be secured from these efforts.
But just when the situation looked most
promising there was a sudden change in
the strength and makeup Of the Teuton
forces opposing the Serbs. They be-
came overwhelming and virtually de-
stroyed at one blow the offensive power
of the Serbs, while the way was speedily
paved for the overruning of Serbia by
the Teuton hordes.
German Unity Meant Victories.
The German High Command, with full
knowledge of all that was going on, had
simply waited until the danger called for
remedial measures and then had taken
them. All that was necessary was to lock
the western front temporarily and shift
the scene of fighting elsewhere. Unity
OF German command broke Serbia's
strength, just as it broke Russia's. The
Allies seemed not 10 be in a position TO
prevent the systematic execution of these
German plans.
Rumania felt the same weight of con-
centrated German strength shortly after
the Rumanian Government entered the
war. The Rumanian troops started out
full Of courage and confidence. They
had reports indicating that the time had
come TO attack. But they had no sooner
started than German reenforcements
swooped down upon them, and their very
inst campaign ended in calamity. There
was so much feeling in Berlin over Ru-
mania's entry into the war that the Ger
man High Command, in response to popu-
lar elamor, acted quickly in this case.
Italy's promising campaign against
Austria which ended Unexpectedly with
the driving back Of the italian forces and
the invasion Of Italy is, military men say,
perhaps the best illustration of the leu
ton unity Of command. 1t was so striking
an example of the advantage Germany
had in this respect that it served to re-
enforce President Wilson's appeal for
unity Of command at the Interallied War
Conference last year. 1t showed Ger
many's marked advantage through CEN
tralized command, and at the same time it
emphasized the handicaps Of the allied
system.
Italian Outlook Was Bright.
Under command of Gen. Cadorna the
Italians had inflicted a series of telling
defeats on the Austrians opposing them
and had forced then, way after heroic
fighting over mountain barriers 80 that
the plains leading 10 Laibach doomed up
as future fighting ground. At no previous
time had the prospect for decisive results
against Germany's chief ally appeared so
promising. Military opinion in the al
lied countries and id the United States
was virtually unanimous regarding the
effect which successful italian campaign
at this juneture might have on the whole
issue. 80.
But despite this there seemed to be no
means whereby the Allies could reach a
decision to concentrate their strength in
support of the Italians and to press the
campaign. u &C. .-..i ...
Italy wanted this support and appealed
for it, openly, urgently. There was no
divergence Of opinion as to the advantage
to be derived from the success Of the
Italian plan, but there was disagreement
over such questions as these: VIII the
plan succeed Can troops be spared
from e-western front? Can supplies
and guns be spared from America? VIII
the general plan of the Allies stand the
risk of attempting this campaign7
Lucky Not to Have Adopted Plan.
According to American staff officers
the question is not whether it would have