The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED DAILY. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1917.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 4712, 9 November 1917, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED DAILY. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1917.

The military situation in Italy ean-

Italy's Hour of Trial.

not be said to be showing signs of improvement, but it is too early vet to ex-

l-w Vttl U l- LV pec-t happier tidings from that particular theatre of the Avar. We knoAv now that the enemy drive into Italy did not come as a complete surprise. It proved so successful simply because the Austro-Germans received inside information as to the Aveakest spot in the Italians’ defences and made their thrust in that direction. What is most annoying about the Avhole business is the fact that disaffection Avas slioAvn on the part of a section of the Italian forces Avliose duty it AA-as to guard the section of the line Avliich the enemy chose to attack. Once more, . therefore, the enemy system of solving the seeds of dissension in an Allied nation met with some degree of success. Italy, j it should be borne in mind, Avas not by any means a united nation AA-hen

it declared Avar on Austria nor had complete unity been established Avlien it Avas decided to make Avar also on Hunland. There have, indeed, been great changes in Italian national opinion since the outbreak of the great struggle. As far as the relationships between Italy and the Hun Combine Avere concerned it is very certain that they Avoulcl not have been disturbed had Austria made the territorial concessions desired by our Ally. The Germans, therefore, shoAved good tactics—from their point of vieAV : —in refraining for such a lengthy period from sending large bodies of troops to assist Austria. In this Avay g section of

the Italian nation was misled into the belief that Germany Avould not mind if Italy obtained territory at the expense of Austria. But the Hun spy army in Italy did not remain inactive, and, pending developments, it continued to do everything in its poAver to turn public opinion ?n

Italy against the other Allies, and particularly Britain. The combined Austro-German offensive, although very disconcerting, AA r ill really have its advantages from the vieAvpoint of the Allies, for as a rule—Russia Avas an exception—nothing tends thoroughly to unite a nation more than an attack upon its territory. It is,

in the circumstances, not at all surprising, therefore, to learn that in Italy to-day all are for the State. The Italians have had the misfortune to have to endure a very severe taste of. Hun methods in the case of an invasion and they can be depended upon to hit back Avith all possible vigor. In one respect it is unfortunate for the Allies that the enemy onslaught'', should have been undertaken at the present juncture. Had the Huns Avaited until next European spring to assist tlie Austrians it would have suited the Allies a great deal better. Even as things hoav stand there is good authority for the statement that for every Hun dm-* sxon that can be spared to help ' the Austrians the Allies can send an equal number of troops to assist Italy. .What -the 'Allies' would have preferred AA'ould liaye been not to. be compelled to fyithdraAV . troops from the West Front : until huge' American forced were available for service in

France. Mr. Holman, the New South Wales Premier, who has just returned from London, says that he was informed both in Britain and in France that the great Allied successes would prove trifling compared with the results of the great smashing blows which would be administered against the Huns when a big American army was available in the field. The scheme that is to be carried out, he avers, is for America to take over, say, 250 miles of the West Front and allow Britain and France to mass huge forces where they desire to deliver a gigantic blow. When he left London it was felt that the Russian debacle would be countered and the Italians were doing particularly well. Expert opinion at that time was that the big Allied drive on the West Front next European spring would quickly force the Huns to crumple up. Next year was fixed as the latest period for the duration of the war. What effect the invasion of Italy by the enemy will have on the Allies’ plans remains to be seen. Colonel Repington says it will not matter where the fighting takes place —the result will end in speedy and complete disaster for the Hun Combine. May this prove a correct interpretation of the changed war situation !