Evening journal., 1918-11-13

The hour OF 3 p. m, November 4.
marks the definite triumph Of the Ital-
Ian army over the Austrian, a triumph
which only ten days ago might still
have seemed far distant, but in which
Italy and her soldiers have always had
unwavering faith. Even in the darkest
moments, scarcely a year ago, when
her soldiers had TO give way before
the crushing force OF the Germans, Aus
trians, Bulgars, and Turks, because Of
their overwhelming number Of cannon
and munitiOns,-even then Italy and her
soldiers had faith In the triumph which
now has eventuated.
In the Allied offensive on the western
front, Italy participated directly with a
large fighting contingent. and indirectly
by sending more than 60,OOO labOrers.
The efficiency Of both these units was
praised highly by the French generals,
and the GeneralisslmO FOch. Meanwhile
Italy was engaging on her swn front
numerous Austrian divisions. Probably
only one OF these divisions could be
spared TO fight with the German forces
on the French front so as 10 satisfy
the pressing demand Of the German
Kaiser.
To the present triumph. which IN so
Tar as Austria is concerned. may be
considered final, and which marks the
definite uniflcation Of Italy and the
liberation Of the peoples oppressed by
the Hapburgs, three factors. in my
opinion, have especially contributed.
l. Inf 1ra
point Of view, and excludes the great
merit owing TO our troops. which I'm
this encounter, as in all others. have
shown great valOr and remarkable re-
sistance The three factors are,-the
choice Of time, the correct direction Of
the rapidity Of execution.
Choice Of Time. The happy successes
OF the Allies on the French front, the
exit OF Bulgaria and Turkey from the
war left Austria alone with her forces.
great though they were, In front Of us
bad weather and snow began TO render
the movements and the refurnishing OF
the enemy troops in the mountain re-
glons difficult; violent rains which
caused the rivers and brooks TO swell
and make the plains muddy had the
same effect I'm the low regions near the
sea. Such conditions limited the front
Of the Italian attack, and though their
nature was such that they might have
helped the defense, in the present in |
stance they were Of greater help in the /
attack because the difficulties mention
ID. although they prevented the enemy
rom successfully counter-attacking on
lur flank, permitted us to gather to-
sether greater forces In smaller
space.
Direction Of Attack. From the first
he intention was to divide in two the
AUSTRIAN army, separating the noun
ain division from that Of the plains.
md possibly cutting or the retreat Of
he enemy troops. The rapid and Wig
DrOus attack against Vittorio Neneto,
'onte nellie Alpi, Longarone, resulted
n the prompt achievement OF the first
i'm. From this attack, the rapid ad-
ance in Val Sugana on GrlgnO and
and the magnificent as
audit and the marvellous swiftness, es-
lecially OF the light troops marching
N Sacile, on POrdenOne up 10 Udine.
ave effect to the second aim with re-
ard to the enemy troops dlslOcated
Brenta and the Piave, on the
'lateau Of Asiago, and on the lower
'aglismento.
Rspidity Of Action. Two dates suf-
ce; on October "a the initial lombard
lent began: on November the Ital-
an flag was flying from the Castle OF
rent and on the tower Of San Guisto I
q Trieste, and on the fifteenth there Z
viii be in force an armistce whose |
srms mark the surrender to discre- {
ION Of the enemy. {
Against little less than seventy di- I