Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star TUESDAY. OCTOBER 30th. 1917. THE ITALIAN CAMPAIGN.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 October 1917, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star TUESDAY. OCTOBER 30th. 1917. THE ITALIAN CAMPAIGN.

About two months ago, at the end of August last in point of fact, the war news was telling us that the Italain

Artsy was hotly pursuing the enemy j towards the Eastern border of the ; Bainsizza Plateau. Monte Santo had j been stormed and brilliantly carried—a great feat, of arms. In the seven days’ battle the Italians took '24,000 prisoners and much booty. But now the tale is reversed. The Italian Army lias had.to evacuate Bainsiaza Plateau so splendidly won, and worse still, leave the conquered enemy country, losing an immense number of prisoners and much war material. The Italians have suffered a very sever© check, and the fact that they have been driven from the advanced posts held in the enemy country, shows that the victory will be a heartening one for the Austro-German forces. The Italians campaign has been a variable one ever since it opened. Our Ally has had a difficulty in maintaining a consistent attack. From time to time Italy has been palpably short of supplies. For the offensive above referred to, British artillery were sent to the Italian Front, and now we hear that Anglo-French troops arc being hastened to the danger points to check the enemy. There have boon the customary adverse reports expressed by tin* Kalian parliamentary representatives, and these together with, the pa uses made in the offensive suggest, that all lias not been well. For some time past, too, it was indicated that the Austrians were preparing for a retaliatory blow on the Italian front, and the event has not been exaggerated. The Austrians were in great force, and very strongly supported by German troops. The. Italians could not have prepared at all adequately to meet the thrust so strongly delivered, and the enemy has reaped the reward of their enterprise and careful organisation. In a measure the enemy, are repeating the course of events which marked the happenings on the Russian frint in the earlier stages of the war. The collapse on the Italian front will give the Allies considerable concern because This . success dislocates the prospects of concluding this’ year’s campaign with a good measure of advantage to the Allied forces. The enemy will naturally attach a great deal to the success against Italy, and will use the occasion to minimise the ill-effects to them of the unfavourable course of events on the Western Front. With their own people, the success againsti Italy will be utilised as a tonic, hoping that the brightly coloured stories will hearten -the peoples of the Central nations to fight on . Relatively the Italian collapse cannot affect the progress of the war. It might prolong j the war a little, but it will not lessen I the resolve of the Allies to go on with the bxisiness. More than ever the effect will be to ensure the western theatre being the determining scene cf the war The Americans are now going .into the firing line, and they will assist the French to reap the full fruits of the advance upon Laon. While the Italian defeat is to be deplored, it must not be regarded as an essential event in the final winning of the war. It is unfortunate that the hopes of two months ago are so thoroughly dissipated. There lias been some huge miscalculation on the part of the Italians tio lose so easily the important success claimed in August last. Perhaps the why and the wherefore will be made plainer later, but the war will go on to the final victory just the same.