South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-05-12

tary side, provided disaster ensued. It would mean
the surrender of famous cities. The moral advantage
to Austrians would very great, but the mill
tary gain would be commensurate, provided only
territory gained and Italian morale endured the
loss of ground and cities. French morale has
vived similar losses French field. be-
hind the Adgc, the Italian position should be impreg
nable for all that natural advantages supply TO
make military defence advantageous To be found
this line, and the Italians have had six months
ready.
As it now stands it would seem that the Austrfans
have concentrated in the Trentno, bring
ing them down BY the great military railroad which
goes under the Baenner pass n a tunnel follows
historic OF TeutOn mNasiOns Of Italy in all
past centuries. Having brought his armies south by
this route which is always beyond enemy reach or
serVation the Austrian arranged them the
eTaI smaller valleys leading from the valley of the
Adige Venetian plain like the sticks a
patiently intending attack by the passes through
which the PiaNe the 5Tenta and the AstCO emerge into
the plain, he holds all upper portions
valleys lie may also be planning Il fourth attack right
south upon Verona by the Adse valley and possibly
fifth along Iii Garda, but the first four bound
to be the important attacks.
If the Austrian can advance down these valleys
half dozen miles. sweeping the hills between them
ne he will then have reached the plain a
wide front and will dominate the Italian positions He
will the main line Italian communCs-
tons permit the Italians remain along the Pave,
they will have retire behind the Brenta, the
BacchisOne the Adige. II the Austrian in his
smashes the Italian line he did the
upper IsonzO, Hndenburg smashed the British
line in the disaster Coughs 5th army in Pr
cardy, then the Italian along the Pave will have
great difficulty exricatine themselves and escaping
development and capture. they did along the
after the CaprettO disaster and for the
The Austrian will doubtless seek repeat recent
triumphs. Progress such the Germans
AT Armenteres viii be sufficient the Pave
lie him and probably NiccnZa and
Padua These will be substantial triunphs an
fensve which need involve any great risks i'm
the matter of CASUALTIES, since MS lines of
municaton and his own front lacking in all
defects of the Italian
There just defect Austrian situation. and
is that because the mountains there is good
communication between the armies in the
TrcntnO and those in the Italian plain. Actually 10
move troops another hardly more
than thirty miles the arpane flies. necessitaes put
ting them a train and carry them around
circle than three hundred miles A. result
the Italians chose take the offensive the PaVe
front, after the Austrian committed the main
his armies the Trentine operation il would
be weeks before the Austrian could reinforce
the troops the plain with those in the mountains
The Italians their side have such difficulty,
because all their lines communications in the
plain and radate like the -pokes of a wheel. from
Casteifranco. Only if they reach the plain can the
Ausrians unity all their armies this Italian
front.
were certain that the Austrian offensive Of the
TrentinO had been permanently checked would BE-
ccdingIy hazardous. victory on the PiaNe
would the danger flowing from the thrust
Austrian TFcntine armies the Italian lines
OF communication between TreviSO and NiCenLa.
II seems inevitable. then THAI the Italians
should play waiting game. II may involve the loss OF