Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-05-20
Italian and Allied
Forces on Mountain
Front in Condition

Correspondence Associated Press.]
Headquarters Italian Army, April
2S.-The Italian and allied forces on
the mountain front are in the best OF
condition. The winter months have
been utilized in strengthening the de-
fSnses and reinforcing lines OF works
until the whole region is interlaced
with powerful systems OF defense and
attack. There are vast stores Of guns
and ammunition, and the spirit of the
men is one Of confidence and eager
ness for an approaching conflict In
the mountain regions.
General Plummer commander Of the
British forces recently announced
their esta blishment in new position in
the mountain sector around Asiago,
and General Diazs bulletins now refer
to the operations of the British forces
in that mountain region. The French
too, who made their brilliant stroke in
Mount Tomba, are also in this noun
tain region.
1t is here that three Austrian
armies under Field Marshal Conrad
Won Hertzendorf are in position: The
Tenth army, Eleventh army, and
what is known as the Kraus army, I'M
der General kraus. These armies COM
prise in the neshborhood Of forty d.
vistions, besides several divisions OF
reserves: while on the Pave front the
Austrian commander, 6orucvich. has
about fifteen divisions and some re-
serves. The divisions or the north
recently have been strengthened by
fresh troops brought from Austria's
section Of Russian and Roumanian
fronts which no longer need her at
tention.
This enemy concentration has been
going on steadily for months and the
Italian and allied forces have also
made powerful preparations for the
coming campaign
The main cause for this shifting OF
attention from the Pave 10 the noun
tain line IS of strategic character.
The Italian front has two main
| branches, one running northward from
the Adriatic TT a point twelve miles
east of Venice; and the other turn
ing westward across the mountain re-
gions and running irregularly up to
the Swiss frontier. When the enemy
made his rush last fall the first pres
sure was felt along the Pave as the
enemy swept IN from the east. But
later when the Italians threw the en-
envy into the river at Fagare and Zen
son and established d solid defense of
the river line, the enemy turned his
attention TO the north and began
pressing down from the mountains.
Most Of the enemy forces first
10 no IN
ually Withdrawn to the mountain line.
Won Bellows German divisions were
among those shifted from the Pave
to the mountains, before Won Belo"
went to the French front The Brit
ish reinforcements, which first TOOK
position on the upper Pave at Mon
tel!o, soon observed that the enemy ar
tillery had slackened off to almost
nothing. and that the enemy positions
on the east bank were apparently de-
serted. The British made many raids
across the river but met little oppo-
| stion, and there was some prospect
this would permit an advance by the
Italians and their allies eastward into
the region invaded by the enemy but
held by them with reduced forces
1t was evident, however, that the
enemy's inactivity on the Piave was
part Of a strategic plan. by which his
| massng Of forces on the north would
not only permit him to make an of
| fensive in the mountain regions, but
would also give him a position on the
| Italian left flank in case of an Italian
| advance across the Piave into the in
| vaded region He was Wiling there
| fore to leave 'he Piave with compar.
! atively light forces, and concentrate
most Of his strength in the noun
| taipS