The Washington herald., 1918-06-20
The Austrian Fnzle.

The decadence OF tie Austro-H Hungarian Empire
5 strikingly shown by its abortive effort to but
Ecss the Germanic attack in the West through
trust at Italy.
Decadence is none too strong a word. The Aus
ian offensive has failed offensive has failed
II the entire history Of the 1t has become
~7nvention that properly C1nceived offensive
ways make initial gains. Every considerable
crust in the has substantial terrain in its
sFst few days. The armies on the defensive have
accepted these losses as inevitable, and have re-
red for counter attacks for the creation of Jagged
sa.isnts into which the enemy thrust would spend
-s force without consolidating its gains or reach
the foothold for a new spring.
me Austriars have signaly failed to make even
Re initial gains which might be expected as a
ter Of course, and to which, according to the
7ventions OF modern warfare, they are Justly en-
I'D. Their attack has been feeble, weakly
e scuted, flabbiy done. Two years ago in the
-"ntino, they did terrible execution. Last fall
y struck along the Isonzo with fiery force. Both
-es they were supported by the Germans; the
tier time they had the added handicap of treason
z-l betrayal. The genesis of Brest-Litovsk is to
found at Gorilla. The Italians were beaten
4 months ago mainly by perhdy.
1e Italians have learned to beware of the ad-
sting and are fighting now to the full measure
,1clr strength. 1t is Premature to say that the
drive is to sputter. out without further ado
lin could not afford to expose such an arrant
re TO the eyes OF the world. 1t is more than
s5le that troops will be diverted from the West
lazc dent in the Italian line and to invade the
central provinces. Such strategy it may
W be pos:u,atct is not in Ludendorffs plan.
sc is forced to it, it may disrupt his program
Tic continuance of the drive in France. 1t is
y that he will insist divertng every avail
Elan to France ard to Withdraw the Italian
c altogether, rather tn weaken himself in the
4 In that case tic ghasty failure against the
zrs stands, teil-tale commentary on the con-
rs existing within the broken dominion OF
ryc-or Karl
-.e1-ic Austria was chained to the Prussian
st only four months ago. She believed she
j enter the alliance with the Kaiser as a part
Already sic lis been reduced to the status
prostitute and parasite She is being treated
Conquered province; almost as Rumania, Ser
md ard Russia have been treated Her
s-.Con could be greater if enemy armies
oVt..:-0.r her territories and setting her
i peoples fIcc. She is shackled to the Jugger-
$ satellite OF war, and she will remain
led satellite OF peace, should her master
lin prove victorious, or even remain upon his
It 100 much to say that Austria Hungary, as
'l.c, Ca-uot survive the war? 1t is the Oldest
.-tly IN EUROPE II mas survived many Dltter
-ts ari the centuries have failed to crumble it
20 fLd is Nemesis :, I.sl2 1t would seem So
a degenerate empire. If Germany wins the
Aust Hungary becomes vassal; if the
win, she withers and wastes before the strong
oi democracy Nothing Can break the ma
IS: movements within her borders save the in
.able triumph OF autocracy, which every day
res more remote, as sophisticated Vienna has
to Arow.
lst-iI Wes notoriously weak against the Rus
ard is revealing herself as even weaker
the Italians Had it not been for the
arm OF Germany size would have collapsed
ago. Today Gcrmanys strong arm is fully
81 elsewhere The result is apparent.