New-York tribune., 1918-06-19

occupy the west bank of the river and
prepare the way for direct thrust.
The immediate and grave danger was
from the north, and on the north the
Italian line seems to have held intact,
some portion Of the blow being borne by
the British and the French troops. Along
the river the Austrians seem to have
reached but not passed the Montello Pla-
teau and to have crossed the Piave at
two or three points-and at these fronts
Italian counter attacks are gaining
ground.
In no defensive operation this year
has the immediate achievement of the
defender in the first three days been as
great as the Italian performance up to
date. The reports Of the high state Of
Italian morale in past weeks thus seem
well confirmed by the facts. 1t is too
early to draw any final conclusions, but
it is plain that the Italians have done
we'll in the first stage of major often
sive, and have done much to wipe out
their defeat Of last autumn. And, de-
spite references TO the aid supplied by
the French and British troops, only
few units Of either are present and the
main work has been done by the Italians
themselves.
Indeed, so slight have been the Aus
trian gains up to the present moment
that the world is bound to suspect that
under German coercion Austria is MAX
ing an offensive reluctantly and with
little hope or expectation of a major sue
cess. An attack by seventy-two divisions
almost twice the force used in the ini-
tial attack in Picardy on March 81, and
three times the force used in the Aisne
attack on June (Which has resulted in
nothing more than local minor gains and
the capture of ten or fifteen thousand
prisoners must be accepted so far as it
goes as failure, and as a very great
failure. We have to recognize the pos
sibility that later efforts may change the
situation, but the Italians seem to have
checked the Austrians completely on the
whole front in three days and with in
significant gains.
In watching the Italian operation the
attention of the world will be fixed on
Austrian military and Austrian political
conditions. Exaggerated as may be the
reports Of unrest in Austria, there is no
mistaking the fact that the domestic con-
dition is grave and that the effect of an
unsuccessful offensive, made under Ger
man compulsion, cannot help being dis
astrous and may conceivably lead to fur
ther and more dangerous domestic dis
orders.
The fact that seventy-two Austrian di-
visions, the pick Of the army, have been
identified in the new operation must serve
to set at rest all question as to the prob
ability OF the appearance of large Aus
trian forces on the West front, for such
divisions as Austria has not used vet are
most certainly inferior troops, or troops
required in the garrisons elsewhere at
home, in rebellious Bohemia, or turbulent
Croatia and Bosnia.
In any event the substantial failure of
the attack in precisely those days in
which an offensive invariably attains it's
greatest results is good sign, and. fol-
lowing closely upon the French achieve
ment on the Disc, supplies just cause for
optimism. We are half through the
storm, and the last two blows seem to
have been weaker than those that went
before. Aud Austria's hunger often
sive," to give it current label, has done
nothing so far to satisfy the appetite
OF the Austrian people either far victory
Or more substantial victuals.