ON THE ITALIAN FRONT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 242, 1 July 1918, Page 7

ON THE ITALIAN FRONT

PRESENT SITUATION SIIMED-UP ENEMY HAS JUST SAVED HIMSELF OFFENSIVE POWER FOR A > TIME ENDED (Eec. June 30, 5.5 p.m.) London, Juno 29. The Italians in tho present fighting have taken about twenty thousand prisoners. As tho enemy had sixteen infantry and two cavalry divisions on the right bank of tho Piave, and seeing that they had to sacrifice the rearguard in order to withdraw to tho left bank, tho Austrian losses are not excessive, and they can rightly claim that they have extricated themselves from a perilous position. The Italian prospects aro very favourable, but the Austrians have been , reinforced, and 1 are offering strong resistance in (i country which is very marshy, particularly when flooded. Austrian troops proceeding from Budapest to the Balkans have been diverted to the Piavo front. 'Die Austrian offensive failed mainly because they attaeked on 100 broad a front, and were therefore strong nowhere. Tho Austrians believed that if they broke through anywhero .they could get tho Italians on the flank, but they inorely penetrated a short distance, and were easily help up by the Italian reserves. Minor -wisons for their nonsuccess were inferior artillery shooting, the low moral of many of their unite, and also that there was no clement of surprise, for 'deserters disclosed to the Italians the day and hour of the attack. In some respects the Austrians, methods wore, similar to the Germans', notably in tlib way they brought up troops in the day preceeditig the attack, and the uso of troops in replacing those that had initiated tho * attack. Their offensivo differed, howevor, from tho German method of concentrating forco on one point and breaking through. Their defeat will have a- serious effect on the Austrians , moral. The actual military result is that Austria has suffered heavy losses and her offensive power for a time is ended. It eeems unlikely that 6he will renew tho attack without help from Germany. Itcly is unable to exploit her victory, and the relative position of the combatants -remains as before. "We must not look for any great counter-offensive, as tho situation offers peculiar difficulty to the Italians. An attack on their mountain front would have- ths advantage of protecting tho Italian lcf: flank, hut an advance hero would l>o slow. An offensivo on tho Piave would be difficult and hazardous, while an advance eastward would increase the length of the line, and render their left, flank still more vulnerable. Tho Italians' strategic position throughout tho war has linen unfavourable. It was false strategy to have attempted an advance on the Isonzo uuiil they hud secured thqir left flank. Their position nlways left t>e. Germans free to paralyse tho Italians' efforts by concentrating in the Trentino.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. [The above is evidently a review by ono of" the war critics, presumably General Maurice, but no.indication of the authorship in cal-'fd.] LOCAI ATTACK REPULSED CRec. Juilo 30, 11.25 p.m.) London, June 20. On tte Monte Gende-Bligny sector the Italian? drove back detachments which had gained a fooling in advanced ele-ment?.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. BATTALION OF AMERICANS FOR ITALY Washington, June 27. A battalion of American troops will ho dispatched immediately to Italy—A us - N.Z. Cablo Assn. (Eec. June 30, 11 p.m.) Washington, June 29. It is officially announced that the first American troops have arrived in Italy.—Aub.-JJ.Z. Cable Assn. HER INCOMPETENT ALLY GERMANY DEMANDS COMPLETE. • CQNTJtOL OF ARMIES. (Bee. Juno 29, 5.5 p.m.) Vaucouver, June 28. The Italian Embassy learns that Germany, following tho Piave defeats, is demanding complete control of the Austrian armies.-'Tho Times." — / .