The Daily News. SATURDAY, AUGUST 25, 1917. ITALY'S GREAT OFFENSIVE.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 August 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, AUGUST 25, 1917. ITALY'S GREAT OFFENSIVE.

The violent 'battle that is raging on the Isonzo is described as a contest of unprecedented violence and is expected to last longer than any preceding struggle in which the Italians have been engaged. Before Italy came into the war there was a general impression that she would make little, if any, dilfcrcnce to the result, and the case with v. hicii the A trians got the upper hand in the early stages of the conflict seemed to indicate i that Italy would soon be counted out. Then came a marvellous reorganisation, and when the history of the war comes to he written it will be found that the Italian operations will ibe classed,j amongst tho most courageous and brilliant of any of the combatants, for the nature of the country in which tlioy took place is such as to make offensive operations a matter of the utmost skill, daring, and in-: trepidily. for instance, the recent crossing of the-lsanzo,«on» of j the most notable, thrilling smd spectacn- j lar feais that any army could possibly I carry out. An unfordable Tiver between precipitous banks two thousand feet high, resembling the moat of a gigantic - 'fortress. -Not only was this formidable barrier negotiated successfully, .but 'the feat was performed in face of terrific artillery lire, and that of machine and j other guns. That was only the com- i meneemcnt of the great straggle tliat j followed, for after crossing the river the Italians found the enemy in great strength on ground that had been .perfectly organised lor defence, bang sown with machine-guns at dozens of points of attack, these guns playing like hoses on the advancing Italians, and ail these obstacles had to be bombed, rushed, and taken at tho point of the bayonet. It was a marvellous achievement, as was the subsequent successful struggle for the popßes?ion of Selo and Brcstipissa, which, it is stated, may prove the key to llennada. This hill of Hermada is a most •foimida'ble obstacle, as was proved by the last offensive, but obstacles to the Italians appear to merely act on them as an incentive, and not as j a deterrent. Tie outstanding feature j of the :idvanti> now being made is j its attack beyond Toliniiio, which tas i brought the Italians within fifteen miles i of tho Tarvis saddle, about thirty miles from Tolmino and forty-three miles from the GuK of Trieste. This saddle is jtist over the Diave river, and several passes lead over the Alpine backbone to j the river, so that if the Italians contemplate a descent iuto the Drave there are facilities for the operation. The Italian? ure still adopting the tactics of keeping the enemy in the dark as to wiiere their next blow will fall, so that they can strike in the most favorable quarter, and it is no secret that the Austrian's ;ire expecting a disaster, and the most h!:ely place for that to happen is the Dr.ivc valiev, wiiere a crushing bl<*v can bo delivered. Nob only is the Italian offensive significantly obstinate, but it id strategically very, " clever. Thai?

.iD.igni&eiit fighting power* liavc never bean demonstrated to such advantage us in tliis iliißcult mountainous region. The skill, bravery and endurance of the troops compel admiration and /promise, •a brilliant siiect.-rr, for they have proved that despito tlie enemy's enormous advantage as regards position, he liasbcen forced to act on the defensive and has snlTored tremendous losses. Positions are 1 :' v.' reversed, for the Austrian intention was to cntabli&h an impassable barrier from the Italian side, behind which great forces might bo massed for a rntdi for the Italian plains, but the Italians have completely neutralised the superiority of the Austrian position and are now \v;;U on their way to Trieste, while their ascendancy over the enemy lias been established, so that instead ot Italy being invaded it is quite probable that Austria may suffer this fate. It is evident this move is feared by Austria, who is beginning to realise that the tables have been turned and that the day of humiliation is not far oil'. The firea-t v. or.c the Italians are doing will live in In story, but the chief source of satisfaction for the moment is the important help they are giving to the AlI lies in keeping the from helping tJermany.