The Dominion. SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 1918. ANOTHER BLOW AT ITALY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 169, 6 April 1918, Page 8

The Dominion. SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 1918. ANOTHER BLOW AT ITALY

——- More than one authority has said or suggested in recent days that an enemy attack on Italy is imminent, and to-day we are informed by Colonel llepington that there are sixty' Austrian divisions' quarters of Austria's field armies) on the Italian front, including eleven from the old Kussian front. Even without this testimony it might have been taken for, granted that the enemy would at the earlifcst convenient opportunity resume the offensive against Italy in which he was brought to a halt about three months ago. Two main reasons impel him to this course. One is that his success last year, gave him certain material advantages of position'from the point of view of further attack. The other, which is even more important, is that the bulk of the forces at Austria's disposal will of necessity be detained on the Italian front'and cannot ho employ-, .ed elsewhere. , Since it is in Germany's "interest to .turn; the Austrian ar.mies to the best possible ac- ; count an offensive against Italy is a natural corollary to the colossal effort the Germans are now making in France. A very important question which' is' still open is whether the Austrian armies are to bc .'reinforced, they were last year, by Germqnvdmstons,,'lt, is, of course, probable that 'if sixty Austrian divisions have been detected' on . the battlefront others are being held in reserve or are being brought from Russia to support the impending, offensive.' Nothing has been heard,, however, of German reinforcements, and' it is possible that Germany is now too deeply involve'd on the Franco-Belgian front to think of diverting troops to Italy. Should this prove to, be 'the case' the outlook in the Italian theatre will be appreciably brightened, for the Austrians have'at all times been; much more formidable when actin'g under German leadership and with strong German support than when thrown back largely upon their own resources.

While there is no doubt that the enemy is in some respects well placed to renew tho struggle in Italy, there is no warrant for measuring prospects by the disasters which overtook the Italians last year. It will probably be getting much nearer to the truth to base opinion on the wonderful recovery of the Italian armies, the resolute spirit manifested by the nation behind them, and the fact that Italy is now in closer and:more.intimate touch with her . Allies,, as regards both political and- military affairs, than at,, any previous stage of 'the war. Of necessity Italy is weakened by the heavy losses of men and guns suffered in the headlong retreat from the Isonzo to the Piave, but on the other hand she has had an interval for rccuperatioji, her burdens of defence arc shared by French and British armies, and her Allies are assisting her in other ways to recover her former position of advantage. It is most important of all that the Italian armies and nation rallied magnificently at the moment when their fortunes looked most desperate. It is nAw freely admitted that for a time after the enemy broke through the Italian front at Caporctto the position was critical in tho extreme. When he visited London not long ago the Italian Prime-Minister (Signor Ormmdo) declared that the Italian armies only escaped and averted an .absolute debacle by a resistance which be considered equal to that of tho Franco-British armies on tlv Marnc. He strongly emphasised the fact that in launching an offensive against Italy the enemy Powers had_ political as well as military ob.iects in view, and that from the political as well as from tho military standpoint they were heavily disappointed.

. . . They based hopes (he observed) on the Italian temperament. During our little colonial wars Italy has suffered reverses, and each time this has happened thcro has been an outcry and the Government lias , been defeated. It is in this way that the downfall of Crispi, one of our most powerful stateemon, was .brought about. But the Germans and Austrians misjudged .tho Italian pcoplo. At this great crisis in the destinies of their country they held firm. Naturally tho assi6lane'o we have from 'the English' and French has had a most stimulating effect upon tliem. . . What would have been the military effect of collapse of Ttaly I need not say, for it is obvious. But that danger is now, I believe, past. For myself I am absolutely oonvinced that if tho AUios only hold on their cause is sure to triumph. Signor Orlando's statement is much more than an apology for the collapse of the Italian campaign. His claims are supported by wellestablished facts. The Piavc \ .line has many. shortcomings from the defensive point of view, and when the Italian armies reached it in thoir. retreat faint hopea wei'o en : tertained in Allied countries of their

being able to hold it. Yet the enemy launched his most powerful assaults against this comparatively weak obstacle in vain. When he shifted his point of attack and concentrated greatly superior forces in an effort to break a road from the ..mountains into the plain on the northern flank of the Piave lino he was resisted with grim tenacity, and not only failed to gain his object, but in the last active stage of the campaign was hurled out of some of the most important positions he had t won by a dasning counter-offensivc._ It. stands to the credit of. the Italians.-that they stemjned and broke the enemy offensive before the Franco-British forces, which now constitute an important addition to their strength, could throw their weight into the scale. As to the attitude of the nation at large the course of events demonstrates that it stood firm in adversity, and available information indicates that, with the exception of a few. Socialist extremists, all parties are solidly supporting the firm war policy of the Orlando Government. Since fighting ceased for the winter, much has -been done to strengthen the Tiave lines and if the worst comes to the worst a retreat to the stronger Adige- line can be- carried out now more safely and with less serious consequences than if it had become necessary last year. Such a retreat will certainly not be lightly undertaken, for it would involve the abandonment to the enemy of a wide belt of Italian territory rich in historical associations and in industrial development. What course events will take in Italy cannot,- of course, be foretold .but there would appear to be ample grounds for a belief that in whatever he-may attempt-here, the enemy will; meet as firm and .determined a resistance as in the-region of his greater; offensive. ■'