THE WAR.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 July 1918, Page 2

THE WAR.

ITALIAN CAMPAIGN.

[i'F.ll PRESS ASSOCIATION. —COPYRIGHT.]

THE POSI TION REVIEWED

LONDON, Juno 20th

The Italians in tbo present lighting I have taken about 20,000. As the enemy , had sixteen infantry, and ftvo cavalry divisions, on the right bank of the Piavo. and seeing they had to sacrifice their rear guard in order to withdraw to the right bank, their losses are not excessive. , 1 The Austrians can rightly claim that they extricated themselves from the perilous position. t The Italian prospects arc very fay- j ourable, but the Austrians have been reinforced, offering strong resistance in country which is very marshy, particularly when flooded. The Austrian troops proceeding to Budapest and the Balkans have been diverted to the Piavo front. Tbo Austrian offensive failed mainly because they attacked on too broad a front, any!,; were, therefore, strong nowhere. The Austrians believed that if they broke through anywhere they could got the Italians on the flank, but the Austrians merely penetrated a short distance, and were easily held up by Italian reserves. Minor reasons for their non-success arc that they wore inferior in artillery shooting, and the low morale of many of their units, and also no elements of surprise for deserters disclosed each dnv the hour of attack.

In some respects the Austrian methods were similar to the Germans, notably the way they brought up troops the day preceding the attack, and the use of troops replacing those that initiated the attack. The offensive differed, however, from the German method of concentration < f the force- on one point nnd breaking through. The defeat will have a serious effect, on the Austrian morale. The actual military result is that Austria suffered heavy losses, and her offensive power for the time being is ended. It seems unlikely that she will renew without help from Germany. Italy is unable to exploit her victory and the relative position of the combatants remain as before. Wo must not look for any great counter-offensive as tin*, situation offers a peculiar difficulty to the Italians. An attack on a mountain front would have the advantage ol protecting the Italian left flank, but the advance would be slow. An offensive on the Piavo would be difficult and hi'.'.ardous, while an advance eastward would increase the length of the line and render the left flank still more vulnerable.

The Italian strategic position through out the war has been unfavourable and it was false strategy to have attempted an advance on Isonzo until they had secured the lett flank. The Italian position always left the Germans free to paralyse the Italian efforts by concentrating in Trentino.

ITALIAN REPORT. LONDON, June 20. An Italian communique states that our aeroplanes bombed the quays nnd hangars at Durazzo, with good results on the 2Sth and 20th. All our machines returned undamaged. \V« drove down an enemy aeroplane which had returned after attacking our torpodoer.s.

A GERMAN DEMAND. A AN COL VEH June 2L The Italian Embassy at Washing ton learns that ’Germany is demanding complete control of the Austrian armies, following the J’iave defeat.

THE PIAVE RETREAT. | AUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CAJBI.E ASSOCIATION it REOTER.j BERNE, Junto 28. The “Frankfurter Zeitung’s” Vienna correspondent admits that the Piave retreat lias made a deplorable impression. The population are now in hopes of a brilliant German victory in the. west. The. situation in Budapest is the gravest.