AN ABORTIVE OFFENSIVE.

Taihape Daily Times, 18 June 1918, Page 4

AN ABORTIVE OFFENSIVE.

In these columns a few days ago we stated that conditions in Austria and on the West front removed Italian fears of a greaf Austrian offensive, and although an offensive has been launched we are inclined to the view

that Italy 'has little fear of it being successful. It was one of the poorest things in the category of offensives yet reported in this great war; it cilu not even attain the initial success that any such onslaught can scarcely help gaining. The Austrians played the game according to the lead set by the Crown Prince in his dash for Paris, hut something missed fire. There were all the mysterious night rumblings caused by the feverish transport of troops by motor, cart, lorry and every other practicable means to the point of attack, and at peep of day the huge Austrian fighting machine was set going, but its wheels skidded against Italian shells and bullets; it simply could not make any headway and the great affair, in accordance with Crown Prince methods, miserbly fizzled dtit. The fact is that only a very few in Austria have the stomach for figllt; the army is not in a condition to fight. Austria is rife with riot and revolution. German methods of suppression have proved futile. The people of Austria want peace and food. The Czech-Slovaks have deserted Austria and are now fighting for Italy, and the ignoble defeat of the Austrian offensive in its initial launching must still further add to the revolutionary movement. One correspondent thinks this failure could only be a prelude to the real offensive which has long been in preparation, but when we realise that it was launched in the most approved German style, that adopted by the future Kaiser himself, it can scarcely be listened to from a prelude point of view. It is not usual to apprise an enenemy of what is in store for him so that he may bare himself to receive the beating. Otherwise war methods are being turned topsy-turvy. With the present Italian morale, backed up by British, American, and French soldiers on the Italian front, we do not believe demoralised Austria is capable of pushing an important offensive. There seems to be reasons for believing that Germany has ordered Austria to keep forces in Italy busy so that none may be sent back to help through the trouble in France. All experts and correspondents agree that the general Allied position has improved very much during the past few weeks* ■>;• v