THE STRATEGICAL POSITION.

But if that is so, you will ask, why is it that they have not made more impression upon the enemy’s position? The answer lies in the strategical position of Italy, and it can be discussed without any technicalities. A child could understand it. The Alps form such a bar across the north that there are only two points where serious operations are possible. One is the Trentino salient, where Austria can always threaten and invade Italy. She lies in the mountains, with the plains beneath her. She can always invade the plain, but the Italians cannot seriously invade the mountains, since the passes would only lead to other mountains beyond. Therefore, their only possible policy is to hold the Austrians back. There remains the other front, the opening by the sea. Here the Italians had a chance to advance over a front of plain bounded by a river, with hills beyond. They cleared the plain; they crossed the river; they fought a battle very like our own battle of the Aisne upon the slopes of the hills, taking 20,000 Austrian prisoners, and now they are faced by barbed wire, machine-guns, cemented trenches, and every other device, which has held them, as it has held everyone else. But remember what they have done for the common cause, and be grateful for it. They have in a year occupied some forty Austrian divisions, and relieved our Russian Allies to that very appreciable extent. They have killed or wounded a quarter of a million, taken 40,000, and drawn to themselves a large portion of the artillery. That is their record up to date. As to the future, it is very easy to prophesy. They will continue to absorb large enemy armies. Neither side can advance far as matters stand. But if the Russians advance, and Austria has to draw her men to the east, there will be a tiger spring for Trieste. If manhood can break the line, then I believe the Durandos will do it.