Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-06
DRIVE TO REACH
VENETIAN PLAINS
EXPECTED SOON
Austrians Concentrate Huge
Forces From East for
Attack on Italy.
OFFENSIVE FORCED NOW
By INTERNAL DISSENSlON
Tyrol and Bohemia Annexed to
Germany for Food Admin
istration Purposes.
QUIET SUNDAY IN FLANDERS
Allies Improve Positions at Some
Points in Series Of Local
Operations.
OFFENSIVE FORCED NOW
BY INTERNAL DlSSENSlON
QUIET SUNDAY IN FLANDERS
IRy Associated Prcss.1

over the battle lines along the Piavc
in Northern italy where tho allied
forces have been holding their posi-
tons since last November, after the
great Italian retreat from the Isonzo.
long threatened blow at this front may
be launched by tho Tcutonic allies
within a few days. For many weeks
the Italian War Office has been aware
that tho .tustrians have been assem-
bling the legions withdrawn from the
Russian and Roumanian fronts for q
drive at the Italian armies, and 1t is
believed that 1t will not be long before
the central powers will make another
attempt to reach the plains of Venetia.
break through the allies lines and seek
to bring about decisive combat in
that thcater os the war.
Emperor Charles of Austria, accom-
panied by his chief OF stan and high
German and Austrian army officers, Is
reported on his way to the Italian
front, and the great movement OF troops
in Tyrol and Trentino would seem to
Indicate that vast bodies of men are
being taken from other fronts to be
hurled at the Italian positions.
The blow. it is generally believed,
will fall somewhere in the mountainous
section OF the front. probably in the
LaEarino and Astico valleys. Thcse
sectors face the north. and, il broken,
f,n ~,
the lower foothills OF the mountains or
even reach the plains. If this should
occur. the armies along the Piave River
would be compelled to fall back. prob
ably as far as the Adige River.
This would entail the loss Of Venice
and IL vast cXpanse of country to tho
enemy.
The decision to launch an offensive
of grand proportions ill Italy was
doubtless forced by political and eco
nomic conditions prevailing in Austria
An offensive campaign that yields gains
Of ground might serve to still the eli,
mcnts which are sccthing throughou,
the dual empire, and would postpone
tho day of reckoning that seems in
store for tho rulers OF Austria.
GERMAN DOMINATION OF
10
German domination of Austria is be-,
coming more complete as time goes on.
Tyrol and Bohemia have been annexed
for food administration purposes. to
Germany, but this move in the great
game of statccraft has served only to
deepen the chasm between tho racial
factions of Austria. Bohemian troops
have deserted from tho Austrian armies
and have Joined the Italians, and, IL
an offensive is not launched. demorall-
zation of the Austrian. forces may come
sooner than the outside world expects.
In the meantime, tho situation on
the front in France and Flanders has
remained fairly quiet. There have
been local attacks by the Germans
here and there along the line, but
nothing approaching general battle
has been reported. The allies are i'm
proving their lines. and are waiting
for the Germans TO mako the next
move.
POPE WILL. TAKE NO
PART IN FACE OFFENSIVE
Pope Benedict has served notice on
the world that tho Vatican will not
be party TO any peace offensive" at
thO ~ SSNHl tline II Is DeIleveu that
Berlin will seek TO bring about Ger
man peace and, IL its advances are
rcpulscd. to nerve the German peopis
10 new bath of blood" by pointing
out that tho entente allies desire TO
crush Germany. Pope Benedict has LEI
1t be known that he is desirous OF
taking any step which may tend 20
shorten t!.c war. but he does not see
at the present moment any reason TO
believe that an appeal would bring
about the desired rcsulta
The situation in Ukraine ard the
ruthless methods. being followed by
the Germans in completing tho subiu-
CATION OF the people have been reflected
in an address by Vice Chancellor yor
Payer before tho main committee Of
the Rcichstag. After detailing tho
measures adopted for securing gun.
plies OF grain from Ukraine and the
discomfort and unrest among the peo.
pie there. the Vice Chancellor, In re-
ferring to leaders Of the UkralnlansF
made tas Significant statement that the