Evening star., 1918-06-23

struck their hera1ded blow against
the Italian armies a week ago Satur-
endeavored to crumple up the armies
defending Italy. Each day has shown
weaker offensive power until at the
present moment the Austrian drive
may be removed from the field OF
serious menaces to the allied cause.
Everywhere save on the territory Inn
mediately adjoining the River Piave
the Austrians have not only been
held firm by Italian. French and Brit
ssh armies. but they have suffered
casualties inflicted on the German
armies on the western front.
Tie Austrian losses in the region Of
Tonale pass. west of the River Bren-
Piave. have been terrible. Likewise.
Austrian ranks have been riddled
along the River P1ave. In several
instances the bodies of hundreds Of
Austrian troops which sought to eff
feet crossings foated down this
In the region of Montebello the Aus
trians crossed the river and gained
some strategic advantages. but these
In the main have been nulled by 1tal-
Farther to the southwark in the vi
cinity of Zenson the Austrians like
wise effected a crossing as they did
in the general region of the San
Donald Piave and Fossetta canal.
The Austrian positions at all points
have been the targets Of tremendous
counter attacks on the part of 1tal-
ians, French and British. and the po-
|sition Of Emperor Charles troops on
the Lower Piave, now swollen beyond
its banks, is extremely perilous. for.
in case of concerted and prolonged
Italian counter endeavor, the Aus
trians will have difficulty in retreat
ing Should this attack not come the
dilemma of the Austrians is height
ened by virtue Of the extreme diff
Guilty in maintaining lines of commu-
(nication.
Generally speaking. the situation Is
one that can be regarded by allied
the Austrians. possessing the advan-
|tage of initiative and surprise, cannot
gain In the early days OF a drive, re-
lnewed offensive endeavors are not
likely to bring further gains In ad-
dition to this. the Austrians. now that
their weakness has been determined,
face tremendous counter
blows from allied forces.
The Germans have been expected
hourly to resume their hammering
tactics on
German POWER tne west
Shown to Be Weaker. but % the, tn e
attack upon Rheims during the past
week was the only evidence that the
armies Of Won Hindenburg and Lu-
dendorff have sufficiently recovered
in earlier offensive endeavors. The
attack on Rheims was directed on a
front stretching from vrigny to La
Pompelle, eighteen miles. but was
brought to a sharp halt by the
tremendous resistive powers of the
French, though they were surround
ed on three sides, making their task
infinitely harder.
1t was q noteworthy fact that the
new attack lacked power. At no
juncture did 1t approach the strik
ing qualities displayed by the Ger
mans on other sectors where the
Teutons have sought to move for
German leaders are finding their
armies sadly deteriorating under the
terrible punishments already admin
istered during the present year.
However. 1t is moro likely that the
Germans have not abandoned their
channel ports. and have kept their
northern France and Flanders. In
fact, the foreign military critics de-
I clare that a blow against the British
is imminent and that 1T cannot be
long deferred. II the Germans in
tend to make 1t their chief effort they
are doomed to ignominious failure.
for the allies are prepared in this
very region. even as they were not
prepared four weeks ago.
At no time during the present year
will the task of the allies be light
I one. and though the allied armies are
holding firm there Is no reason to
| believe that they will not face peril
| Gus times in case the Germans con-
tinue their hammering tactics. All
that the allies desire is to hold their
line reasonably arm until the weight
| Of American effort Is fully felt at
| which time the Germans will begin
their long heralded march for the
Rhine.
| II y
The bolshevfki Of Russia are doomed.
Everywhere the opposition to the
tools Of the
Russ Rolsheviki kaiser is pro-
Are Facing Doom. Siberia the
scene Of the best organized op-
position to the radical government
in Moscow. rapid progress has
i AA hA