While in Rome politicians were discussing the Fourteen Points of Wilson, the military organized the defence on the new front. Compared to what happened earlier, the line was shortened by 170 kilometres and this was undoubtedly an advantage for General Armando Diaz. The westernmost sector, the one between Lombardy and Alto Adige, remained unchanged while the boundary on the Asiago plateau was withdrawn by a few kilometres.
From this point onwards the changes were noteworthy: the Fourth Army moved from Cadore and the Belluno Dolomites to Mount Grappa, on a line drawn between the left bank of the river Brenta and Mount Pallon. To the right French and British regiments (that arrived as had been promised during the meeting at Rapallo on 06th November 1917) were deployed up to Montello. Finally, the Third Army of the Duke of Aosta Emanuele Filiberto was positioned along the Basso Piave.
Developments were not, however, limited to new positions. Diaz introduced a new way of life and of looking at the war compared to Cadorna and the management of his troops improved considerably. Besides, aware that his army would not be in a position to undertake an offensive campaign, he decided to experiment with the strength of this new line by small initiatives that had a strategic value. On 14th January 1918 some units of the Third Army succeeded in enlarging the bridgehead near Capo Sile while at the end of the month (28th-31st January) the Battle of the Three Mountains took place on the Asiago plateau. After massive bombardments by both sides, the Italians conquered back the line Cima Eckar-Mount Valbella-Col del Rosso, lost in the previous month during the Battle of the Melette.
In spring, thanks to the weather that was definitely more favourable, he skirmishes became more frequent. The Austro-Hungarians took the initiative and on 13th March 1918 exploded a gigantic mine of 50,000 kilos under the peak of the Dente Italiano on the Pasubio Mountains. Two months later (13th May) the Italian army managed to win back Mount Corno di Vallarsa, the place where Cesare Battisti and Fabio Filzi were captured. Finally, at the end of May, an offensive was organized on the Adamello Mountains to strengthen some positions around the passes of Tonale and Paradiso: on 25th May the Arditi managed to take back the whole ridge of Monticelli with the exception of the easternmost peak at an altitude of 2,432 metres.
