Victory road ‘shortened’ by fall of Il Duce
End of European conflict by Christmas now viewed possible
By Harrison Salisbury, United Press staff writer
London, England –
The Allies are believed revising their strategy in the light of the Italian situation for a spectacular drive to come to grips with Germany this fall and possibly end the European War by Christmas.
No Allied statesman allows himself to voice hopes for such a speedy conclusion of the war but it is obvious that military fundamentals call for fullest possible exploitation of the opening which Italy has presented.
Satellites falter
Officials warn against use of the 1918 parallel for comparison with the present situation, but a careful examination of that argument shows that it is not necessarily valid.
As late as July 1918, Germany was still capable of mounting dangerous offensives on the Western Front. The German position had been strengthened by elimination of the whole Eastern Front.
But in 1918, the Allies’ peripheral attacks – most similar to their present strategy – finally began to bite into the German satellites. The attacks finally exposed the fatal German weakness – inability to continue to supply the army and maintain its far-flung battle forces.
Enemy’s collapse begins
The British made headway against the Turks and the flimsy German outer structure began to collapse, starting with Bulgaria and running quickly through Turkey, Austria and Germany itself.
The German Army today may not have been beaten in Russia but it has suffered severe casualties and losses.
If the present Allied momentum can be kept up and increased – and shipping is probably the chief factor therein – chances for repetition of 1918 are certainly within the realm of possibility.