The Beginning of Futility and Futility ending in Disaster discussed Italy's joining the allies and going on the offensive against Austria-Hungary. With Berlin's assistance deep penetrations were made into Italian territory resulting in allied troops coming to Italy's assistance while secret negotiations for a separate peace with Vienna between U.S. President Wilson and England's Prime Minister Lloyd George failed. A repeat Habsburg offensive was halted followed by the issuance of the Manifesto which would place the empire's ethnics as independent nations under the Habsburg crown a move which led to the disintegration of the Habsburg Army and Empire.