The Daily News. FRIDAY, MAY 25, 1917. THE ITALIAN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 May 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, MAY 25, 1917. THE ITALIAN FRONT.

One of the surprise packets' of the war has been the splendid achievements of Italy. this former ally of Germany threw over her connection with the Triple Alliance and joined the Entente Powers it was thought by few that sho <could bring to bear any appreciable striking power against our enemies, but that the fact of the Russians engaging the attention of the bulk of the Austrian forces might enable the Italians to force Austria to give up the unredeemed provinces. Consequently there was much speculation and disappointment in the opening months of IOHi at the part Italy was playing. But Italy gradually overcame her political and military difficulties and commenced her offensive on the Isonzo, and since then she has been gaining strength and determination, in spite of many reverses, until we find her now conducting a series of victorious battles and inflicting tremendous looses on. the enemy, while she is steadily advancing towards her objective. It was shortness of big artillery, coupled with faulty distribution of troops that led to her discomfiture in the earlier stages of her war for the recovery of her lost provinces. The continued good news of late demonstrates that Italy is not only well prepared for the great struggle, but has the benefit of skilled generalship. There lias never been any question as to the fighting qualities of the Italians, and after recent performances they may be regarded as equal to any of the combat-1 ants in valor and resource. The winter on the Italian front is long and severe, and the country over which they are advancing largely favors the defenders, but now that the -winter is over the Italians are moving to some purpose. The front attacked is between Tolmino and the sea —a distance In a straight line of less than thirty miles, but the natural barriers make the route about sixty miles. .There can : be no doubt that the Italian strategy has outwitted the enemy. In the first place they tricked the Au'strians (last year) by an offensive which apparently was directed against Monfalcone, and then hurled themselves on Gorizia In the present offensive, which forestalled the Austrian move, they bombarded the whole of the sixty-mile front, and while the Austrians expected the blow to come east and Bouth of Gorizia, it fell between Gorizia and Tolmino. The attempt Which was made early in the war to capture Monte Santo from Plava was fruitless, but they now appear to be meeting with better success. Their present attacks have developed with remarkable vigor, it being computed that the enemy lost twenty thousand men in four days. It is quite clear that the Austrians are now fearing for Trieste and the last desperate counter attack, which is described as being the most violent of the campaign, was directed to relieving the pressure on the Isonzo, but tho pressure <jontinu.es unabated. In General Cadorha the Italians have a military strategist and tactician of a very high order, and the way he is developing his offensive niay well inspire a hope of complete success unless some

exceptional misfortune intervenes. It is the brilliancy of these attacks that lends lustre to the Italian forces and engenders faith in their ability to win through and'eventually complete the redemption cf the Irredenta. The capture of Vodice is of the utmost importance and now that the Austrians 'have again failed to defeat the attackers we may expect before long to hear of the Italians capturing Trieste. They hold the key to tile position and appear to be sufficiently prepared for the work in hand. It is said that when Lord Kitchener passed along the battle line of tho Carso and saw the points of vantage the Austrians held, he said: "The army that conquers the Isonzo defences may account itself the first in ' the world." The Italians are making-good their claim to that high distinction indicated by Lord Kitchener, and they are doing so with a precision that enhances their feats of arms, Presumably they have reached the zenith,of their power, and by strategy and tactical skill are demoralising, the Austrians by inflicting colossal losses. It is quite evident that Italy has followed in Britain's wake in the matter of reorganisation and industrial mobilisation. While the army has been compulsorily inactive during tho winter months the industrial law- has been busy accumulating munitions for the present offensive. Hundreds of thousands of men and women have been at work with the result that Italy can meet the enemy with confidence in the military equipment provided for the purpose of obtaining a victory that will restore 'her lost provinces after the lapse of about a century. The Austrians are fighting with the utmost desperation, hut the Italians, flushed with hard-earned -victories are undaunted and

determined Like tlio French tliey are lighting for their own, and their recent record makes thorn worthy of the cause, as well as worthy of hearing arms for flic, attainment of a pence that, is worth having.