ITALIAN CAMPAIGN.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 September 1917, Page 2

ITALIAN CAMPAIGN.

ON ITALY’S FRONT. LONDON ,Sept, 20 t Italian semi-official: Lord Derby, accompanied by Generals Macready and Maurice,' spent four days as guests of the Italian General Staff. They lunc-heoned with the King and visited the front where, after greeting the English artillerymen, they were able to lorm an idea of Italy’s difficulties ■ and sucoesses. TREASONABLE CIRCULAR. ITALIAN EXTREMISTS’ DEMANDS. ROME, Sept. 19. The authorities have discovered a treasonable circular issued by the Socialist Committee at Florence. It demands the immediate end of tho war and the commencement of _a fight for the expropriation of land. The Socialists generally strongly object to the extremists’ ptopoganda which is fed by German secret funds.

ON THE ISONZO. HEAVY FIGHTING. LONDON, Sept. 19. Mr. Julius Price, writing from General Cadorna’s headquarters states that an anomalous state of affairs is existing on the whole of the Isonzo front. A workman interregnum has been established during which both sides are feverishly completing ' preparations to resume hostilities on a big scale. It is still a question of which belligerent will be first ready. The Austrians converted the B&insizza Plateau into a veritable fortress, but they were so confident that the Italian guns could not drive them out that they neglected to provide lines of communication. With the exception of a few short tracks they had nothing in the nature of a system of roads for military purposes. When the Italian offensive commenced this dearth of roads greatly hampered the Austrian commander during his .so-called strategic retreat. General Cadorna throughout took advantage of the absence of the Austrian preparations and immediately upon the heels of tho attackers came the reservists, who enlarged the rough roads, enabling the Italians to keep in touch until the retreating Austrians were brought to bay close to the extreme edge the plateau, which is a position of great natural strength. This is dailv made more accessible for heavy, artillery transport to enable tho Ital- • ' ians to resume the advance. There is not a day without tocai eifensivos which end in tho Austrians being ejected from strong positions. Events are following the course which General Cadorna foresaw, by which the Austrians were driven back to the mountains encircling the plateau.