The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1918-06-25
The Week In the War

the OttenSiye 1tSeh has apparently come to an
end with practically nothing gained and with much
lost 50 far as man power is concerned
1t is sal, to assume that the enemy greatly out
numbered ',e Italian ad Allied forces ON the long
Italian front or believed that they did else an
offensive VT Id not have been lost 1t is even
more e> dcnt that the Italians and the Allies had
an advantage of position greater than the Ieuton
war lords had reckoned. Whether they also mis-
calculated nyndn power and gun strength is not
So certain but in any event the enemy plans went
badly astray and they found, to use an old border
expression that they had bit off more than they
could chaw." 1t is true that weather conditions
greatly helped the Italians and that the floods
which swept down the Piave River were most OPP
perfume and probably have played large part in
results though even before the waters rose. the
offensive or its first phase at least, appeared DIES
tined to failure.
At the first shock OF attack the Italians and the
Allies were forced to give some ground. In the
mountain sections the loss of positions not
important nor was the Austrian gain in any in
stance great Then the Italians and the Allies
came back strong i'll counters and speedily recover
ed all that they had lost and have scored
gains There it was that the enemy offensive was
almost Immediately changed into defensive.
Under d rakng fire of Italian artillery, machine
guns and rifles the Austrians secured footing at
some points on the west DanK OF the fldNe. n0eT
a continuing fire they succeeded in establishing
some bridges and made some advances from their
newly established footngs. But this was at a
tremendous loss and for days the Piave River ran
red with Austrian blood The Italians held strong
: " and WE'LL the advances small and costly
and then came the floods that washed out the
bridges and prevented the bringing up OF further
renforcements. Still greater losses came t" the
invaders The battle not Stalenate, was in
no sense a draw it is a repulse and such a de
feat for the foe.
While intense fighting has been going ON in the
. Italian war theater fighting on the western front
has lulled Expectations that new phase OF the
German offensive would be launched without de
\ lay have not been realized 1t is not for moment
assumed however that this offensive has come to
its close On the other hand it is understood that
Won Hndehbufg is reorganizing and reforming his
forces for another thrust In these days of inten-
sifed warfare, where thousands are sacrificed as
were tens in the past where immense stores OF
munitions are used, it takes time to reOrganlzc
after an offensive, matter how successful More
reserves, more stores of munitions must be
brought up for modern methods have not enabled
the bringing up Of shells and munitions with a
speed to equal that with which they discharged.
Late reports, from a military authority writing
to the Paris Matin express the belief of the writer
that the next thrust will be between Rheims and
Scissors, but on this point experts not agreed
In reality. until the blow is delivered it is almost
impossible to determine the point of impact in adj
vance. Only the observ atoms Of the air scouts can
give a rect indication and the information which
they bring in is naturally carefully guarded by the
commanders and military strategsts.
1t is cheering to receive such words as that civ
out BY General March, United States chief OF staff
that this country is five months ahead Of its pro
gram in the movement of troops to France and
that million men will be overseas within the