South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-06-25
Italian Victory
Greatest Of 1918
Says Smonds
By FRANK IL. SIMONDS.

iNcW--Iimcs and Associated
Newspapers Military EXpcrtJ
NEW YORK. June 25.-Ne
have ~ Vet too little information
TO enable us 10 measure the eX-
tent OF the Italian victory at the
PiaVe. That = great victory has
been won can no longer be mis-
taken The question which re-
mains To- be settled II whether
the beaten Austrian army can
rally at the PiaVc or viii have to-
20 back 90 the Tagliamento, or
even to the Isonzo. The offensive
has failed: problem of today -
whether the defensive can De or
gsnizcd.
To the Italians belongs the
credit for having Won the first
great victory of tine campaign OF
1915 and having made the great
contribution To allied morale of
the current year. Hardly more
than six months ago am Italian
collapse produced the eraVest
peSsimism of the war. Now the
Italians have rcdressed the bal
ancc by adding a victory "a inn
pOrtant for the allied cause "a
Ncrdun aud perhaps only a little
less important than the Marine.
IL must be q matter of con-
graduation 10 all Italians that
Italy, practically unaided-fOr al
lied COntinecnts i'm Nenctia are
slight--has redeemed the defeat
OF last year by a victory. which
even in its present proportions
must count 10 the greatest battle
field achievement i'm the history
OF the Italian people since their
liberation.
We have seen in this contest
the clear shock OF two great ma
tions. Had the Austrians prevail
ed at the PiaNe il may be ques-
toned whether northern Italy
could have maintained the strug-
Gle. and the collapse of Italy
would infallably have released
AUSTRIAN divisions for service ON
the front in France.
For Italy the bate of the Pave
has AT once the value which the
battle OF the Marine had for
France. It saves the fertile and
industrial organization of the
northern provinces for the savoy
kingdom. IL removes the peril
10 Venice and the only less inn
mediate peril To Milan and Flor
encc. II should definitely close
the period of Austrian pcnetra-
ton of Italian territory.
There remains possibility of
the Intervention of German re-
serves. But these can only be
used promptly on the narrow
front OF the TrcntinO hills between
the AsiagO plateau and Largo eli
Gartla. where the Italian line ia
most strongly held and the diffi-
Culties Of attack are greatest.
Moreover. "A NictoriOG- Italian
army j. bound 60 offer far more
formidable resistance than did
tire undetermined and disorgan-
lied forces responsible for the
disaster OF CapOrettO last year.
In their retreat from the Piave,
If the Austrians are unable TO
stand on the east bank OF the
river. they would &c threatened
hy no such peril as hung over
the Italians i'm the first stages OF
CapOrcttO last year. Possession
OF the Alps covers the flank of the
beaten Austrians and they will be
able TO retire along lines OF COM
muniCatiOn which viii not be
threatened by flank or rear at
taCks.
The sole question will be
whether the retreat degeneratcs
into "A light. or whether. at the
PiaVe or the Tagl4amcntO. or
even al the lsOnLO. the broken
lines are reorganized and the
front rces;ablished. Possibilities
OF the development and capture
CT any ct the armies engaged II
extremely unlikely. We must eN-
pcct at most consequences like
those OF the Marne rather than
like those OF sedan.
Copyright. 1851