New-York tribune., 1918-06-20
Military Comment
By William l.. Mcpherson

tion more than justice to say that it
has been stopped definitely by
brilliant and confident Italian dcfen-
sive. 1t never got a clear start. 1t
halted before it really got in motion.
1t was fatally handicapped from the
beginning by that indecision in
strategy for which Austro-H Hunga-
rian military leadership has been
famous since the days of Napoleon.
Every big German offensive in
France this year has made consid-
cradle headway, because the whole
German effort was concentrated on
breaking through the centre of the
line of assault. The same method
was applied before ST. Quentin, at
Armentieres, on the Chemin des
Danes and south of Lassigny. Ger
man generals went down to Italy
last fall and showed Austria how to
strike. The result was the smashing
victory of Caporetto.
Yet after thinking it over ell last
winter and all this spring Boroevic
couldn't bring himself to apply the
lesson of Caporetto!* He couldn't
decide where to strike. He compro-
missed in the end by striking at every
point on line ninety miles long
This line, however, so far as the
Austro- -Hungarians were concerned,
was divided into two practically
isolated sections. To reach the
mountain front west of the Brenta
River from the Piave Valley requires
a detour to the rear Of $50 to 200
miles. There are no good lines Of
communication even between the
Piave front and the mountain Sec
tion east Of the Brenta.
No common strategical reserve
could be created for the two parts of
the Austro- Hungarian line On the
other hand, the Italians, fighting in
side the arc of a circle, with multi
piled lines Of communication cast
and west and north and south, could
maintain central reserve capable
of use at any point in the circum-
ference.
The difficulties Of his position
should have counselled Boroevic tc
hold on one front lightly and to fall
with all the rest of his strength on
some critical sector of the other.
That is the orthodox German method.
The offensive of June Is was not
orthodox. Its force was wastefully
dissipated. It simmered down a.
once into dozen different 'breaking-
through operations, all insufficient in
driving power.
/ Within the last two days there
have been signs of tardy concen-
tration of Austrian reserves in the
Piave Valley. But the Italians could
ask for nothing better than to have
a DELAYED attack come from that
side. They have plenty of leeway
for open fighting west of the Piave.
Their reserves are at hand. But
General Kuchbach's armies must
make their own elbow room-and de.
pend on more limited reserves. With
the river close behind them thew are
also hampered in manouvring and
must face the risks of being driven
back across their bridges by suc~
cessful counter offensive.
Vienna is still chary about re-
porting gains west of the Piave.
Yesterdays Austrian communicates
claim slight advance at the south
eastern edge of Montello and the
passage of the Fossetta Canal atI
some points. They admit violent
Italian counter attacks in the river
district to the east of Treviso. Aus
trian advances in the area lower
down, along the Venetian marshes,
are only sideshcw to the fighting
higher up. The Austro-H o-Hnnparians
cannot stay in the Sile River Sec
t'on: III they fail to get ahead be-
tween Fagara and Musile. They
would be pocketeu between the Piave
and the sea.
On the whole, the Austrian often
sive in Northern Italy seems to be
fading away. 1t never had the sub
stance which German offensives are
made of.
In France, on the Rheims side of
the Aisne- Marine salient. General Won
Bilow has Just suffered reverse al.
most as sharp as that administered
to Won Arnim below Ypres on April
20 last. The Germans attacked on
Tuesday evening on the whole loop
like front about Rheims. EMPLOYING
several divisions. The battle line
ran from Vrieny. southwest of the
citv, all the wav around in semi
ellipse to La Pompelle, some miles
to the southeast. The attack was q
complete failure, involving heavy
German losses.
| On this sido NJ tho A;euo No..