Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-09-18

the army cannot remain sound for
ever if the people IS diseased. Really
grave symptoms in the field army still
came to my knowledge only occasion
ally as before. AS whole, it was still
and disciplined, and after all,
it had beaten the enemy,
During the great events in the west,
quiet had been maintained on the
Italian and Macedonian fronts. They
were merely prolongation of the
western front, and formed protec-
ton of our flanks. the Macedonian
front at the same time protecting
the flank of Austria Hungary. The
assistance we received from the
Austro- Hungarian artillery N the
west Was. owing to its exiguous sup
ply Of ammunition. insignificant. 1t
went back after it had fired it off.
The situation of the Austro-Hun-
garian army in Italy had improved,
inasmuch as several hundred thousand
prisoners of war had rejoined it from
Russia. The army had thus been
strengthened and felt equal to making
an attack on the Italians. General
Won ARR had sent officers to witness
our attacks, and was kept informed
of our tactical experiences, He IN
tended to assume the offensive in the
first half Of June, that is to say, soon
after our attack on the Chemin des
Danes. Thus, at the end of May and
in the beginning of June there was
to be a greatFcombined effort against
the entente.
Hoped for Austrian Victory.
1t would now have been possible to
reinforce the German army in the
west by few Austro- Hungarian di-
visions. if the attack in Italy had been
given up But their fighting capacity
could not be considered sufficient for
employment on the western front,
and, as long as the Austro- Hungarian
general headquarters at Baden was
honestly working for an offensive in
Italy, they could not be better en-
gagged
A victory in Italy would relieve us
lust as much as it had done in the
autumn of 1917; at the best it would
draw off a part of the new American
formations This would be of more
service than a mere reinforcement of
the western front by divisions of
poor quality. If the attack in Italy
should prove unsuccessful. it would
still be possible to send a direct re-
enforcement to the west.
The food situation of Austria and
the Austro- Hungarian army was I'M
commonly serious. 1t had received its
share of the Rumanian supply in ad-
vance and used it up, and was now eX-
tracing all it could get hold of from
the occupied portions of the Ukraine,
needless to say, without any consid-
Grafton. But even this did not suffice,
and early in May Austria, being in
great need, seized grain belonging TO
Germany, which was being forwarded
us from Rumania. while it was in
transit through the Dual monarchy.
AS we had already given help in
February this high-handed action
therefore aroused considerable aston
ishment and Indignation. But indig-
nation was no use: we had TO give
again, which was the more annoying
as the horses on the western front
depended for their meager corn ration
on the Rumanian supply
Bulgarian Debacle Begins.
The Macedonian front continued
quiet The Bulgarian army had time
for rest and training. But it could
not be denied that since about March
its spirit had vis'bly deteriorated ow-
ing to bad food and clothing. The ir-
ritation against GERMANY was cleverly
fomented by hostile propaganda and
bv BuIgarians who favored the en-
tente. The peace of Bucharest and
the withdrawal of a few German for
nations to the west added fresh fuel
to it.
Cases of mutiny showed how far the
process of corrosion had gone. Cen
eral headouarters and the group head
quarters of General Won Scholtz did
all they could to help. and to irflu-
ence the Bulgarians. We gave them
food. and the Prussian war minister
provided clothing. We also complied
with the wishes of Crown Prince
Boris. who had visited the western
front. and had asked for the removal
of s,lndrv batteries ia he defayed
We impressed on the Bulgarian
Headquarters the need for preparing
reserves. If had mt too MANY troops
in the front line and kent hack too few
com plete formations Gradually Cen.
erat HTokev decided IN follow onr al :
vice This was Facilitated hv trans
ferrine the troons in the Dohrudia to
the Macedonian front which how
aver nroceeded vary slowly IN the
enemv's si,A there now appeared
rovaI Crack troons in addittoI, ~ the
VenizeIists
Saw Dauo2r To Turkey
In palestine tho English had in
March attacked across 2tbe 1oroa,,
lust north Of the Red sea. with tho