The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-08-02
REVIVAL OF ITALIANS
AFTER THE BIG Loss
Nation Now Stands Facing Foe
With Will To Win
RETREAT OF AUSTRIANS
Greatest 0ffense of Enemy Was
Attack On Morale of
ItaIy's Army
COPYRIGHTED BY UNITED pREss.1

COPYRIGHTED BY UNITED PRESS. ]
Rome, July IA year ago, the
Italian armies were within twelve
miles of Triest, and on the direct road
to the interior of Austria. Today they
are holding the line of the Piave
river, overlooking the rich Venetian
plain, now in the hands of the enemy
But this picture of territorial re-
Gnquishment finds the italian people
nearer to true victory and realization
of national aspirations than they were
the day before the disaster at Capor-
etto. That triumph of German in
trique and propaganda, resulting in
the rout of the Italian army and the
retreat to the Piave, was the first
step toward the creation of the pres
ent national solidarity of Italy for
prosecution of the war.
The extent of Italy's rejuvenation
is illustrated by her tremendous de-
feat Of the Austrian offensive, which
began along the 100 mile front from
the Asiago plateau to the Adriatic the
morning of June 10.
Unlike the previous offensive, this
effort found the Italian. armies ready
and waiting. British and French
troops fought shoulder to shoulder
with the Italians in the mountain
region, and in the last days of the
important cooperation.
Austrians Cross Piave
The Austrians, who made this drive
minus the German aid which had
characterized their former campaigns,
were stopped in the north, but sue
ceeded in crossing the Piave at sew
eral points, Their greatest penetra-
ton here did not exceed five miles,
however. Their losses were stu
pendous. Nearly million men were
engaged by them, and their killed
wounded and missing were estimated
at 250,00O
The allies took the initiative on the
mountain front on the second day.
and eventually 'reestabGshed the old
line there. The tide turned on the
Piave during the fifth day. Rains in
the mountain region flooded the river,
preventing the Austrians bringing UP
reinforcements, ammunition or food.
On June %, the Austrian retreat be-
gan. In some places it became an
utter rout. They lost more than 25,-
GOO prisoners.
After winning back their old lines
along the Piave, the Italians, British
and French began systematic local
enterprises which have been success
full in winning territory, inflicting
casualties and acquiring prisoners.
These continue as this is written.
Propaganda Offensive
The central powers biggest offens-
i've against Italy during the past year
was the attack of the morale of her
soldiers and civilians. 1t eoincided
very nearly with the various affairs"
in France. 1t was finally crushed and
defeated by the thorough exposure of
Germany's treachery after the militar
defeat
The moral rebound which came in
Italy after the stemming of the
Austro German rush on the Piave was
further strengthened by several other
factors. Probably the chief one
among them was the creation of the
allied "singie front" Long before the
vi NCAClttl IOCI
preme commander on the western
fronts, the Italians were made to feei
the unity of allied interests when
the British and French expeditions
took up their positions on the new
line of defense. That was after the
Italians, alone, had halted the enemy.
and the best appreciation of THIS
feat, is given in the words of high
allied official, who said:
"Italy's resistance on the line of
the ~Piave will live among the moss
famous deeds of battles of all ages.
1t is not too much to say that the
cause Of the alliance would have beer
severely compromised, if not more,
had not the Italian troops stood their
ground and turned bhck the invaders
from. Italy on those celebrated de-
lenses. l firmly believe that that
great feat of arms not only had an
objective result of enormous import
ance; l believe it has been of enorm-
Gus service to the Italians themselves
They have come out of that trial with
greater unity, with great self conf
dence, and, if possible. with greater
courage than they ever had before.
italians to France
Italy has shown her appreciation of
the lesson and results of the Piave
action by the dispatch of an Italian
force to France. Her confidence in
the reality of inter allied solidarity
is further confirmed by the arrival OF
American troops.
Another great event in Italy's his
tory of the past year is the Rome
conference of representatives Of the
subject races of Austria and the reso-
luton which resulted from the pro-
ceedings there. For many months
practically from the time
of the Russian revolution, enemy in
triguers AMI misled persons in the
allied counties had been doing their
utmost to break the ties between Italy
and France, England and America by
a disparagins campaign against the
formers war aims. IS
The principal attack of these Ter
sons was based on an alleged incon-
sistency between the supposed aims
of Italy and her correspondingly
alleged unjust attitude toward the
aims of the Austrian nationalities.
This propaganda had certain success
in that it led to a continual pickering
in sections of the allied press and a
vague, general, mutual distrust of
each others motives between Italy
and her allies.
II ~. 4