The great Italian offensive was made not
only by their own forces and the French and British troops, which had
assisted them the previous June, but during the intervening period a
large force of Americans had arrived in Italy. On June 27th Secretary
Baker had made the announcement that General Pershing had been
instructed to send into Italy a regiment that was then in training in
France. The regiment thus sent was augmented considerably later. The
purpose of sending troops to Italy, Mr. Baker explained, was rather
political than military. It was desired to demonstrate again that the
Allied nations and the United States were one in their purposes on all
fronts, and to extend the intercourse between the troops of all the
powers at war with Germany.
On the second day of the Italian offensive their success increased. More
than nine thousand Austrians were taken prisoners and fifty-one guns
were captured. The Piave River had been crossed, and the Italians had
advanced four miles to its east. The attacks in the mountain region were
being more bitterly contested, and counter-attacks had enabled the enemy
to regain some of their lost positions.
On October 30th the Italian advance was continuing. The Austrian front
appeared to be breaking under the heavy blows of the Allied troops.
Dispatches indicated striking successes, not only on the Italian front
but at the points where the British and the French were holding the
line.
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