Evening star., 1918-06-17
SIGNS Of failure
IN AUSTRIAN DRIVE
U. S. Officials Believe Italians
Have Halted the Enemy's
Offensive.


veloping a number of features SINH
lar to the recent German operations
on the western front, It is disclosed
in official dispatches from Rome re-
ceived in Washington today.
Besides using the new massed
method of attack employed by the
Germans. the Austrians are relying
on gas attacks to a degree unusual
with them, and their strategy is the
German pincer method by which they
hope to cut of that portion of the
Italian army which is defending the
lower Piave river.
Outlines Austrian Plans.
11:1O o'clock last evening. outlines
clearly the Austrian plan as follows:
while Gen. Conrad tries to drive
into the plains OF Bassano. breaking
through the defenses along the Brenta,
Gen. Kuchbach Is endeavoring to cross
the Piave and cut the roads protecting
our (the Italian) alignment along that
river
"Borevic Teferring to Field Mar
shal Won Borevic) is thus hoping to
vi can Tic COlupdCl OTueT OF lQc lIa1lan
army through the German pincer
method. Before a decision Is reached
several days will pass"
Besides containing assurances of
the valor, discipline and efficiency OF
the Italian army, the dispatches also
refer to the morale Of the Italian peo-
pie in this wise:
The Italian people are calm, have
absolute confidence that no moral
crisis Will develop in the ranks of the
army that has been able to hold the
enemy on the first-line defenses and
points to the concentration places
whence he started"
Describe the Offensive.
Referring to the fighting Saturday
and yesterday a dispatch under date
of yesterday states:
The Austrian offensive, directed by
Borevic, is extending on a front of $50
kliometers. Two Austrian armies are
operating along the line. The army of
Gen. Conrad is operating on the
Asiago plateau and that Of Gen. Kuch-
bach along the Piave.
ine element Of surprise has been
absolutely lacking. The most Intense
attack has been made against de-
ienses at Montello and the right bor-
der OF the Piave down to CaposiIe.
THE Austrians attacked AFTER hav-
ing sent waves of tear-producine
gases. The italian artillery during the
ehtlre day has battered down the en-
emy centers where the battalions were
concentrating for the attack.
very serious fighting developed
on the Asiago plateau, Mount Grapa
and on a small sector on the lower
Piave. The battls has been going
on All day Sunday and is still pro-
ceeding. There is every evidence that
the oattle Is assuming enormous pro-
portions"
Views Of q. s. Officials.
In the opinion Of officials in Wash
ington the Austrian drive already
shows marked signs of failure. The
advances achieved in the initial as
sault, necessarily the most powerful
attack In any offensive, are so limited as
to indicate that the Austrians virtually
had been halted in their tracks
one source OF concern to Italians
IS the possibility that the Germans
IN view OF the suspension OF activ-
lties on the western front, may aid
the Austrians in assailing Tonale
pass. the gateway to the Lombardy
region, one Of the most important
Industrial sections of Italy.
Faiiure OF the Austrians is further
attested, 1t was pointed out. by the
absence of mention OF specific places
in their official report, wherein they
make vague references to slight ad-
vances and to prisoners captured.
One reason for Italian success in
was the little heed she paid to in
ternal conditions in Austria, trying
to take advantage OF them when pos
sible. but slackening her military
preparations not at all in the hope
that revolutions in the dual empire
would weaken her striking arm.
The Italians maintained that the
danger Of internal dissensions only
made an Austrian offensive the more
likely. in hope that a military VIC
tory would put fear into hearts Of
the disturbing elements.
Reports Of American Observers.
Reports Of American military OBJ
servers with the italian armies have
today. rating the Italian army as
among the best equipped and pre-
pared of the allied forces. The re-
cuperation of the Italian forces after
the disastrous withdrawal before the
Austro-German attack last year has
Failure of the Austrians to get their
offensive in motion may furnish an
opportunity for an Italian counter
movement on that front. which will
result In diversion on the western
front
Should events show that the Aus
trians can be held. 1t seems to OBJ
servers here that Gen. Foch, supreme
commander. may decide to strike his
first counter blow there. The Ger
man high command would be COM
PEELED to meet such a move, II 1t
gained any headway. by withdraw
ing picked German divisions from the
western front to support the Aus
trian line. They could not permit
their ally to be seriously menaced
as popular uprising In Austro-
Hungary might result which would
upset all German calculations
The stanch stand Of the Italians
and their French and British asso-
ciates against the Austrians is
counted upon to greatly strengthen