The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 1916. ITALY'S TRENTINO CAMPAIGN.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 May 1916, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 1916. ITALY'S TRENTINO CAMPAIGN.

The recent massing 0 f Austrian troops in Mil! Trentino region, followed by u great attack on the Italian positions, lias naturally aroused considerable interest in tliat tlieatre o{ war. The brunt of the Austrian offensive, for Which tin; em»my is reported to have assembled 300,000 men, has fallen on a front between the Adige and the' Astico (a tributary of the Adige;, which flows through the eastern vrall of the salient about twelve miles southeast of Trent. The Trentino constitutes an open gateway into northern Italy,, and must, therefore, he conquered before the home territory of the Italians can be considered reasonably safe. Knowing this, the Italians exhibited praiseworthy energy in pushing their advance into this most difficult and extensively fortified district of Trentino, with the result that they obtained -possession- of strong lines beyond their old frontier. The natural frontier between Italy and Austria is the Alpine range running eastward from Switzerland towards the Adriatic. The great notional uprising of Italians against Austria, in which (inribaldi took a prominent part, will still be remembered by the older generation of the present day, and though Austria was forced to acknowledge Italian independence, she insisted on retaining in Trentino a military position w'hich was an ever present menace to the new kingdom, and, in addition 'to that, Austria retained control of Istria and the Isonzo; The re-possession of these important territories is what Italy is now striving to obtain. Austria now; seems bent on endeavoring to' invade Italy. At first sight it would sewn that'ltaly's, chances of success against so powerful an enemy were not as good as could be desired, 'but the Italy of to-day is vastly different from the Italy of half a century ago. We have seen the remarkable resource and splendid courage ami determination of the Italians in their daring advance over country that might well have daunted the greatest military Power, while her artillery may be relied upon to prove its exceptional strength. Even after the Italians had firmly established themselves on Austrian soil, General Cadorua is said to have planned to divert the Austrians from the most direct path to Lombardy by way of the Adige, The news of tbe great Austrian offensive hj&? Cftrtainly surprised thoM

who have not been giving much attention to the Italian sphere of operations.' The Austrians claim to have met with considerable success, but this may be discounted. In all probability the Italians have been pressed 'back from their first lines, but they claim to have inflicted great losses on the enemy in the sanguinary encounters that have taken place. It was' generally considered that Austria was too briskly engaged elsewhere to spare the necessary troops and artillery for any great offensive against the Italians, but, if to-day's cables are to be relied upon, tfoe movement was inspired by political motives, and became somewhat of an imperative necessity in order to quell the widespread .popular disaffection caused by the shortage of food and high prices, a« well as to counteract the depression which exists regarding the outcome of the war. The Italians are reported to be rallying splendidly and holding on firmly, and a* they are fired with the patriotic Ambition of driving the Austrians out of "Italia Irridcifta," they will fight with all their might to accomplish their purpose. It must be remem'bered that Italy las probably drawn at least a million Austrians and their equipment from the Eastern front, and in this way has been of the utmost service to the Allies on land and sea, especially as such aid was never contemplated when the war started. The Italians struck vigorously at the outset, and General Cadorna has proved a wise and tactical commander. He is new being put to the test. Latest advice indicates that 'he is coming through the ordeal successfully.