THE ITALIAN ARMIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16677, 23 October 1917, Page 4

THE ITALIAN ARMIES.

The debate in the Chamber of Deputies at Rome regarding General Cadorna's plans draws attention to the remarkable development of Italy's military strength. Though the war had been in progress ten months when Italy became a belligerent, her preparations were then far from complete, the points in which she was weakest being in officers, artillery and supplementary services. During the past two years, Italy has more than doubled her forces of infantry, Bersaglieri and Alpine troops, organised powerful siege artillery, consisting of hundreds of batteries of heavy guns,

created a vast force of specialists demanded by the peculiar conditions of her campaign, and established the elaborate system of transport necessary to maintain armies holding a front of 400 miles—equal to the western three-fifths of which is more than 6000 ft above sea-level. Altogether Italy has mobilised 4,200,000 men, and by the continual expansion of her military power has been able to maintain successful operations against Austrian forces which are twice as numerous as those she faced in May, 1915, and are supported by a great strength of German artillery. In addition to the forces on the Austrian front, Italy has provided troops for Albania and Macedonia, while her navy has played an'important role by holding the fleet in its ports, and countering submarine operations in the Mediterranean. Italy's co-operation has throughout been of very great value to the Allies. She has given her operations a constant offensive character, and, when preparations have been completed and the opportunity is favourable, may be relied upon to strike with even greater force than in the past at the defences of the common enemy.