ITALIANS ON THEIR NEW LINE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 43, 14 November 1917, Page 5

ITALIANS ON THEIR NEW LINE

THE SUPREME NEED ALLIES' PLANS MUST BE SPEEDED UP By Telegraph—Pre6s Association-Copyright London, November 12. Mr. Ward price writes: "The Italian 'Army is now praotically established upon its next river line, and Iho first Austrian 6hells are already falling in the neighbourhood of the positions where the next great defensive battle will Ibe fought. The supreme need now is that the Allied plans shall be carried out with the utmost energy and speed."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable A6sn. FIERCE REARGUARD ACTIONS. New York, November 12. The Home correspondent of the United Press reports that there are fierce rearguard actions in the Piave River zone, 6outh of Chiarano (near Troviso). The enemy attempted an encirclement of the infantry, but the Italian cavalry counter-attacked. Heavy rain i 6 enhancing the defensive value of the rivers.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.. THE GERMAN REPORT . London, November 12. A Gorman official report states: "Near Longarone (10 miles north-east of Belluno) our troops barred the Italians' retreat in the Upper Piave Valley, and rfe took 10,000 prisoners and much material. We advanced down the Piave, and are now before Feltre (25 miles north-west'' of Treviso)."-Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Aesn.-Reucer. (Rec. November 14, 0.10 a.m) i London, November 13. A German official report states: "Wo took four thousand prisoners westward of the Belluno Cordevole Valley "—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Rouler. I ' "LITERALLY FIGHTING FOR HER LIFE" CAN THE PIAVE LINE.BE HELD 1 Rome, November 12. Mr. Percival Gibbon writes: f 'Tho Tagliamento served Italy badly. When the Italians were retreating the river was a rushing torrent; when the enemy's cavalry approached the river subsided, and became a normal rivulet in a tract of sand. The Italian retirement, was glorified by a score of fine fights, the rearguards bringing the pursuers to a standstill again and again. The Bersaglieri, who were lighting and marching continuously for a fortnight, put up a great, resistance at Sacilo, where there was house-to-houso fighting. The tact that they are now fighting ia thoir own beautiful country has fired_ the Italians with a new and temblo enthusiasm. The troops to whose defection General Cadcrna attributed the disaster on Ootober 21 were then in Austrian territory. Now they are fighting on Italian soil, and are yielding by inches only/ The correspondent regrets he caunot indicate the location, of the lino it is intended to defend, nor the consequence of failure there; otherwise the world would realise exactly the stakes for which Italy is fighting. ■> Italy is literally hghting for her life. Other correspondents believo that the Italians cannot long hold the Piave line. The capture of the impbrant town of Belluno and the enemy's rapid progress in the Sngana Valley tend to inspire anxiety,—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. STERNER FEELING IN THE NATION MOVEMENT FOE, STRICTER MOBILISATION. Rome, November 12. There is a growing movement in favour of a more complete mobilisation, and the closing of the theatres. Tho first batches at permanently disabled soldiers have gone to tho front to encoumge tho fighters. Tho newspapers noto with pleasure that the Prince of Wales is cordially welcomed in the villages wherever he is seen. 'He walks the streets without an escort. The presonco of His Royal Highness in Italy at the time of crisis is regarded as proof of England's warmest sympathy.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. BRITAIN AND FRANCE TO THE RESCUE ■ Paris, Novembor 12. Sir. Lloyd George and M. Veniralos arrived within ten minutes of each other. They were met by some notables. M. Painlevo has also returned. Ha said that absolute agreement exists between Britain and France regarding Italy. M. Painlevo added: "Tho Allied Conference is completely confident." ' It is understood that it has been arranged that the assistance to Italy from Britain and Prance shall bo equally divided.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. SPEECHES BY THE PREMIERS. (Rec. November 13, 7,25 p.m.) Paris, Novembor 12. 11. Painleve (the French Premier), in welcoming Mr. Lloyd George at a luncheon, declared that by every railway and all other routes French and English soldiers, guns, and munitions, were being hurried across the Alps to assist Italy. "Our help will not fall ?horl of tho greatness of the peril," he faid. "I need not speak of help when it is a matter of helping brother peoples who are resolved to make every sacrifice for a common ideal. There must be one front, one army, and one nation. Upon such a programme victory will depend." Mr. Lloyd George, replying, referred to tho new War Council. They unfortunately had not had the timo to consult with America and Russia before forming the council. Tho Italian disaster had necessitated prompt action on the part of those Powers whose forces were readily available to assist Italy. It was imperative that all the Allies should bo represented, in order to ensure the success of the great enterprise in Iti-ly, wlii':h was essential to victory The? had commenced to obtain Russia's and America's .consent and co-operation. "Let us bo just," ho said, "to Russia, which is suffering from a violent fever as tho result of atrocious inisgovernment. Sho is winning her way to a steadier and cleaner health than ever she enjoyed before. Wo should not forget what she did in the early days of the war, when her heroic sacrifico helped to save Franco and Italy. What then was tho reason that the Allies to-day were not muoh further along the road to victory? Tho fault had been an entire absence of real unity in the Allied direction of tho war. We all felt _the needl of it, but had never achieved it, each country being left to its own devices."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. FUNCTIONS OF THE WAR COUNCIL (Rec. November 13, 7.25 p.m.) London, November 12. In tho House of Commons,. Mr. Boiinr Law announced that the Allied War Council would have no executive functions, but would advise on all matters all'eeting' tlie co-ordination of Allied strategy.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. FALL IN THE ITALIAN LIRE (Rec. Novembor 13, 9.5 p.m.) London, November 12. The value of tho Italian lire continues to depreciate. To-day's exchange on London is forty to the £, as compared with its numinal valuo of 25J to tho .61.-Aus.-N.Z, Cable Assn.