The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-08-13
AUSTRIAN ARMIES
HURRY|NG FORCES
TO START ATTACK
Awaiting Outcome OF
Strife on Picardy to
Decide Action.
EMPEROR AT FRONT
Recent Dispatches Tell
of Great Activity on
Italian Line Where
Enemy Awaits.
EMPEROR AT FRONT

Washington, l2--On the outcome
of the present titanic struggle in the
Picardy region depends whether or
not the enemy Will attempt To launch
a new offensive in Italy is the belief of
certain military observers here.
Recent dispatches emphasize the
activity now in progress In the Aus
trian armies facing the Italians. Mass
formations OF fresh troops are under
way and other 'carmarks, OF Inn
pending action. including a visit 10
the front by Emperor Karl, have IN
dicated an attack. Such an attack,
however, 1t is believed here would be
merely for distraction purposes, bat
its possibilities cannot he denied.
For this reason. II Is suggested that
continued advance on The part of
/ the Franco British and American
forces between the Somme and the
Disc would prevent any action on "A
large scale along the Italian front
Military men. however. say the situa'
ton should not he misunderstood.
They do not believe the German
high command would, or could, spare
any troops for an Italian offensive,
but they do think asfeint in this re-
Eton. together with the actual military
possibilities II might contain. would
slow up the present allied offensive
and give Won Hutier a chance TO re-
gain hfs breath.
The magnitude Of the present Ger
man retreat. though, and the fact
that Fochs hammering blows have
reached the staccato stage. indicate
tfat the Austrian activity resembles
much the barking dog. who puts up a
bad appearance. but nevertheless does
not bite.
today give a good idea OF the amount
of supplies and material that already
have fallen into the hands OF the
allies Conscious OF the danger
I threatening his right wing Won
Z Hutier, 1t is said, is hastily evacuating
his heavy artillery, his ammunition
depots, and in a general way, all his
war material
The newspa per Liberte. in describ-
ing the booty taken by the allies. says:
THE roads which lead to the
Eomme are encumbe with crowds
of conveys, motor cars artillery and
infantry columns. which the allied
avtators---incontesta masters OF the
air--are bombarding without inter-
mission. The cavalry. tanks and the
auto machine guns are continuing
their bold incursions across the enemy
lines, increasing the disorder among
the Germans.
During the last twenty-four hours
several general STATS have been cap
tured as well automobile parks,
aviation aerodromes ambulances,
whole trains and numerous ammuui-
tion depots which the enemy in his
flight abandoned intact"
Another instance of the work OF the
allied air squadrons IL given by the
report. which says every bridge across
the Somme from Peronne to Ham has
been destroyed by bombs, and that
foot bridges. whose construction was
attempted by the enemy, have met "a
like fate.
At one time, said other dispatches.
120 French aviators threw twenty
three tons of projectiles upon Las
signy, which at the time was full of
conveys and troops. Tremendous de-
struction was wrought by the attack.
Furthermore, the airmen Bombed rail-
road lines. bivouacs and the stations
at Ham. Chauny, Roye--which late
reports indicated was in the hands of
the British-and many others.
Possibly at no time of the war. it
was said here today, have allied
aviators demonstrated their usefulness
to such an extent.