The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 1917. ITALY'S OBJECTIVE.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 August 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 1917. ITALY'S OBJECTIVE.

Tho 'brilliant Italian victories have naturally directed attention to Italy's war aims, and it may be said these are of a two-fold character. In tho first place there is the great patriotic incentive to recover the lost provinces generally referred to as "unredeemed Italy." Then 'there is tho further prize which- is so essential to her national prido and ■wellbeing—the capture of Trieste—whereby she would become the dominant and not subordinate power in the Adriatic. Not only is Trieste a great naval base and arsenal, but it includes Pola.at the south-

em end of the peninsula, which forms a great naval .base. An Italian advance of less than ten miles from Trieste would cut the only railway to Pola, thus stopping the supplies for the Austrian fleet and rendering it impotent, Trieste is and has always been Italy's onaiii objective, for she regards it as part of unredeemed Italy, Apart from the strategic importance of Trieste, it must 'be remembered that the port is the chief outlet of Central Europe, through which flows a large volume of trade, hence from a commercial point of view the possession of Trieste is most desirable. In view of these facts it is not surprising that the Italians are putting up such a brilliant military record, or that the Austrians are making so obstinate a defence. The day after lltaly declared war she started out on the difficult task of reaching Trieste, and she is still on the inarch there, but between then and now there have been many hard fought conflicts and a succession of formidable obstacles to overcome—the deep and broad laonzo to cross and much mountainous country to negotiate. The Italian soldiers 'have never flinched from the task of surmounting both the natural and artificial barriers in their path, and they have performed prodigies of valor that have earned for them high fame and glory, as well as the admiration of the 'world. The work of separating and reduaing the enemy's strong positions on the heights was such that it is not, unreasonable to say that none bat troops thoroughly seasoned" to mountain climbing could accomplish it. Austria was quite alive to Italy's aim and naturally put forth every effort to thwart its attainment, har system of strongly fortified positions being as complete as military, science and skill could enswe. This \ emphasised by the statement that the German military authorities were bo confident of the Austrian position being impregnable that they considered assistance was not needed. Those who have closely followed the details of the Italian offensive on this front 'Will have gained a fairly accurate idea of the immense advantages the Austrians possessed by way of defensive works. Trenches were built of stone and ferro-concrete, caverns hewn out of the solid jfock and every measure taken to prevent defeat and to .'bring disaster on the enemy. The Italians, however, knew their business well and they settled down to systcmatiscd methods of attack, going forward from point to point with a determined persistence that never flagged. The strategy and tactics of General Cardorna have proved all that could bo desired, his name will doubtless be for ever honored in the annals of his country and in the hearts of' the people. He has raised the status of Italy as a military power to a high position, while his soldiers have earned immortal fame for the heroic feats performed in the face of terrible odds. It is just about a year since the Italians, by the capture of Gorz, obtained the key of the position, weakened the enemy and made, clear that they would eventually gain their objective. There was, however, a formidable task ahead—the driving of the enemy out of the heights dominating the Isonzo, and to capture the whole of the Carso. When in the spring of this year (May) the campaign 'was recommenced in earnest tho Italians showed that they were better equipped than ever with the artillery and munitions required for success. The two chief barriers to progress were Monte Santo and Monte Hermada, am: the recent fighting has been for the possession of these mountain fortresses. The severe defeat inflicted on the enemy north of Plava, when positions deemed to bo impregnable were successfully stormed, compelled the Austrians to retire. A cable message from Rome on Saturday notified that tho tricolor had floated from the sum- ! Mit of Monte Santo since the previous I day. Then followed the news that Hermada was isolated and was being fiercely attacked on all sides so that its /all is inevitable, and the last stage of tho journey to Trieste will be entered upon by a victorious army which will have the assistance of the Anglo-Italian fleet. Unless some unforseen event happens the tri-color shonld soon wavo over Trieste. Heartily as wo applaud the success of our ally, we do not lose sight of tho fact that this success cannot only be measured in the light of its local importance, but must bo viewed also as a factor in the Allies' operations generally against tho Central Powers. The blow given by Italy to Austria has a moral as well as a material effect on the course of the war, for the capture of Trieste will proclaim that Austria is a spent force which will no longer count, and will probably cause her to sue for peace. This is, of course, an optimistio view, hut the enormous losses inflicted by Italy on Austrian have certainly been of the greatest service to tho Allies' cause