The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-06-26
URGES THAT ITALY
DRIVE FOR BERLIN
Allied Offensive Against Gerrnany
Through Austria Declared FEAST
bic BY Colonel Pho.
HAS POLITICAL OPENING
Jogo-sl Czechs and Poles, He Re-
lievcs, Would Assist Allies I'm Put
ting Final Defeat Upon tho
Huns.
by COLONEL AMERTGO PIO.
Member of the Italian War Mission

Washington, June 25.--As It be
comes more and more apparent that
the enemys difficulties are increasing
on every front and that the morale o.
the industrial classes in Austria and
Hungary Is lower than ever before, II
is but natural that consideration Of
a military offensive by the allies on
the Italian front should more and
more occupy the attention OF the cri-
tics and the public.
AS is well known the italian gem
eral staff Is frankly committed TO the
belief that the military conquest of
the enemy can come only by vic
torious advance to Berlin over the
route which Napoleon accepted as the
most practical, namely. an offensive
against Trieste, through the Julian
Alps, the suhtugation of lower Hun
gary, 'he investment OF Vienna and
then the march north to Germany.
This route. as Is we'll known. pre-
sents far less difficulty for AN often
sive army than would an advance
from the western front across the
Rhine.
The great strength Of the German
system OF fortresses north of the
Rhine would hold up an advancing
force for a long period
II Is true that fortresses in them
selves don't, in this age, play a de-
CisiVe role; they serve merely as an
adjunct. and If the German army were
defeated and forced TO cross the
Rhine. ii may he safely asserted that
II would not shut itself up in the forts.
But these fortresses would play an
important part in aiding the mobile
forces in as much as they would ser re
as protection for important points,
thus narrowing the practical avenues
of invasion by permitting added time
to the defenders for the construction
OF provisional works.
In view OF the political situation In
Austria and the apparent weakness
Of the Austrian field force, II would
appear that powerful counter thrusts
by the Italians might, at this time.
develop into a grand offensive move
ment.
1 In the country to the north OF the
Piave there are at least ! 900, 900 Ital-
/ ians anxiously awaiting for us to re-
/ capture their lands from the Austrian
( forces. and southeast of them lie the
I countries which harbor about 900,
900 Jueo- Slavs. North of the Danube
are the 100000 Rumanians. The
( capture of Trieste and a strong naval
offensive would enable us to bring
arms and food to these people. and II
would. in a general way, extend our
front almost Immediately from the
/ Adriatic TO the former boundaries OF
| Russia
I Let us assume that our plans came
forward handiiv and that we took
Vienna. Immediately We would be in
/ a position 10 treat with the $500 600
/ Czecho- Slays to the north and their
| netEhbors. the 100000 Poles. We
: have every reason to believe that a
, guarantee Of freedom to these people,
| for centuries slaves to their feudal
| overlords. would bring us their hearty
aid and would create a new and BIT
terly hostile front separating Ger
many from Russia.
! It is true that such an effort would
| call for very careful work by our mas
| terS Of politics but | soiemnly assert
| that II is an entirely possible plan
and that if Germany were in our place
| II would not hesitate at once to un-
| dertake ii.