Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-29
Defeat of Italian Army
at Caporetto Offsets
French Victory Along
Front of 712 Miles.
D'ESPEREY PRAISED
FOR TROOPS MORALE
Russian Situation Gives
Germans Opportunity
to Reinforce Divisions
Fighting Elsewhere.
CHAPTER XVIII.

~ second offensive since Gen
Nivelle's failure in April, ar
irving by motor at the headquarters OF
Gen. d'Esperey, commander Of the
group of armies of the north, on the
evening of October %.
The plans for the attack were ex-
planned to us, and from the extreme
care taken in working out the details
and from their accurate knowledge OF
the eneny's forces and his position,
there seemed to be little doubt of sue
cess.
Soon after their victory near YER
dun in August the French had begun
to prepare for this offensive, in which
they could not well afford to fail. The
advance was made by eight divisions
of the 9Th Army on front OF only
seven and q half miles, extending along
the Aisne, with the object of gaining a
more advantageous position for the
Winter, and also still further building
up French morale.
Germans Were Fortified.
Gen. Maistre, the army commander,
gave the operation his personal atten-
ton, prescribing an artillery prepare
ton covering six days, during which
the expenditure of ammunition was
even greater than in the offensive of
August 20. The long period of artil-
lery fire was considered necessary, as
the Germans were strongly fortified
along chalky bluffs of the Aisne, where
numerous caverns afforded cover Tor
large garrisons held near the front.
The assaulting lines of infantry, &C
companied by numerous tanks, sue
ceeded without difficulty IN reaching
the limited ebjectives. Fort Malmatson,
the key point, was reduced to heap
of rubbish by the very heavy artillery
fire concentrated upon 1t. The capture
of this dominant position by the
French caused the immediate with
drawal Of the Germans on the right
and left, and during the succeeding
fortnight they retired behind the
Ailette.
AS we drove toward the front in the
forenoon we met German prisoners
being taken to the rear and received re-
ports that progress was very satisfac-
tory. The day was foggy, with rain at
intervals, so that aviators were I'M
able to be Of much service, and the
advance, except at the start, was quite
hidden from our view, even from old
Fort Condo. a commanding position
that had been selected as our obserVa-
When the luncheon hour came Gen.
dEsperey asked us into a chamber OF
the fort, where We sat down and en-
loved a menu that would have done
credit to any restaurant in Paris. Dur
ing the meal the general told us that
several years before he had crossed
America returning from service In the
Orient, and his journey across Iowa
happened during one of those periods
when prohibition was in force in that
State. If there is any one thing that
Frenchman cannot understand 1t Is
that any people should deliberately
enact a law to deprive themselves OF
the privilege of taking a glass OF wine.
To have heard him describe how ha
suffered while passing through Iowa
one would have thought he was telling
of a trip across the Sahara Desert.
Gen. d'Esperey Praised.
During the afternoon he took us to
visit the headquarters of one OF the at
lacking divisions, the 9th, and after
its infantry had penetrated the main
German defenses we went by automo-
bile to what had been No Mans Land
and thence on foot to the enemyS sec
ond position. The artillery and ma
chine-gun fire was still frequent over
that part Of the field. which was strewn
with the bodies of many gallant
fTeQcDHtn, WIlCSt SOAA 4AehO AAAoNo
the victory possible.
From the respect shown Gen.
d'Esperey as he passed along, speaking
cheerfully to the men, frequently ad-
dressing them affectionately as Mes
Enfants," there could be no doubt CT
his popularity. This was my second
contact. with one Of the most pic
turesque and delightful personalities In
the French army.
This achievement Of the French IN
capturing positions against which the
April offensive by Nivelle dashed itself
to pieces had a very stimulating effect
upon their morale, but it would have
been more lasting had it not been fol-
lowed so soon by the serious defeat OF
the Italians at Caporetto, October "a.
After extending thanks to our host
we left for Compiegne, literally covered
with mud, stopping there TO congratu-
late Gen. Petain on the success OF the
day. While at Compiegne we dropped
in at the dispenSary, where some Amer
lean women, under Miss Elsie de Wolfe
(who afterward became Lady MendD ,
maintained a clinic for badly burned
gas cases We also made brief call at
the hospital nearby to see Col. Bunau-
Varila of Panama Canal fame, who
had lost a leg in the recent French Of
fensive near Verdun. From his cheer
full mood he seemed TO be rather proud
Of his wound.
In 1927 1 took part in the dedication
of the Ossuary near Verdun, at which
Col Bunau-Varila was present. On the
rounds to inspect this fine monument
we passed the many bays which contain
the bones of men who lost their lives
in the great battle When We came to
the bay corresponding to the sector in
which he fought, ne jovially remarked
that he thought his leg must be in there
Offensive Against Italians.
Following closely on the heels Of this
limited French success came a ire
mendous countcrstroke by the Aus
trians and German against the Italians.
During preceding months, beginning IN
May, the Italian armies had made a
series of attacks, which at first met
with considerable success. The Italians
made progress in the Julian Alps, caus-
ing Austrian losses of some 10000 pris-
oners. bat the timely arrival Of Aus
TRAN achievements enabled them to
prevent serious dislcdgment.
Meanwhile, the situation on the Rus
sian front permitted the withdrawal
OF troops of the central powers to ar
extent that enabled them to assume
the offensive against the Italians
Rather vague rumors came TO the ears
of the allies that an attack was inn
| pending, but they received little ere.
dence. especially from the Italian
commander in chief, who professec
every confidence In the strength Of hit
armies.
The Germans had come to realize
! that operations with limited objectives
involving days of violent preliminary
artillery fire were far too costly Wher