The Daily News. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1917. AN IMPROVED OUTLOOK.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 November 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1917. AN IMPROVED OUTLOOK.

The news from Italy is distinctly mora hopeful this morning. There are indica ; tions that the retreat has ended, the Italian*, indeed, counter-attacking and regaining positions. Yesterday we were informed that the enemy had crossed the Piave, and established a bridgehead. Evidently he has been thrown back. If Venice is to be «aved, the Piave line must Be held. The historic city is, no doubt, Mackenscn's objective. Its capture would be a great moral blow to the Italians, and the fact is fully recognised by the Huns, whose agents and spies are everywhere endeavoring to cause division among the Italian army and people, with a view to inducing them to break away from the Allies, and conclude a separate peace. With Italy out of the way, and Russia hamstrung as she is, the Central Powers naturally would believe they had a very good chance of emerging successfully from the conflict, or, at any rate, securing acceptable peace terms, for which they are hungering so much. They are holding the Western front and concentrating their full power upon the Italians, and the latter, consequently, have suffered severely.. The Allies realise what the crushing of Italy means, and are lending her all assistance, both in guns and men. According to M. Painleve, the late French Prime Minister, French troops have taken their places in the front lines, and no doubt the British are there also. But the question arises: Have the Allies been able during the past week or two to transport the necossary heavy artillery and munitions ? If they have, the enemy will be checked; if they have not, then a further retirement may be expected. It is clear that the Italians have had to sacrifice most of their heavy guns, and possibly a great deal of their field artillery, and fresh supplies must come from the Allies. Transportation is a difficult problem, especially when a quarter of a million soldiers from the Western front have had to be thrown into Italy. The presence of the Anglo-French troops will hearten the Italians, whose morale has suffered severely from the defeats they have been subjected to since the beg",nlng of the great Austro-German drive The Anglo-French, on the other hand, have long had the measure of their opponents, and continuously proved their superiority. They, therefore, can be depended upon to stand up to the en3my, provided, of course, they are accorded adequate artillery support. If this is not available, then the look-out for Italy and the Allies as a whole will not be too bright. Italy was saved in the spring of 191 C by the collapse of the Austrians be fore Brusiloff in Gallcia, which compelled them to draw off troops to reinforija their eaitern front. But there » now

no chance of Die Russians moving, let alone attacking in twee, and the enemy i can only be checked by frontal attacks i on the new Kalian i'rgut. If the Piave can only be held for a few days, the. issue will not be in doubt, but time is wanted to enable the Allies to bring across from France further guns, munitions and men. Henceforth the Italians •will not be left to themselves. They will'-be buttressed by the Anglo-French, and the whole Italian and western lijie will be directed and controlled by the one set of brains. The absence of coordination and unity in the past lias been serious; the present Italian disaster is one of the offects. The Allies ftnvc been slow to learn that the war e»i bo won only by complete unity and coordination of all their forces.