THE WAR.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 November 1917, Page 2

THE WAR.

[r£E PRESS ASSOCIATION. —COPYRIGHT.] ITALIAN CAMPAIGN. THE ISONZO BATTLE. ITALIANS TAKEN BY SURPRISE. [AUSTRALIAN & N. 7.. CABLE ASSOCIATION] LONDON, November 5. Air. Ward Price writes: The great Austro-German attack on the Italian front began at 2 in the morning of the 24,ffti„ tjhe bridgehead at Santa Lucia towards Plezzo. I A violent bombardment was kept up for two hour s with special gas shells | ohliging the Italians to take cover j Fog and rain helped - the enemy to ad- ’ vancel secretly. When the bombard--1 ment stopped at four o’clock the Itali inns’ believed iti was a luUj, ins it j seemed an inadequate preparation for a big attack., The Italians were not on their guard, when suddenly they saw the enemy storming forward. Next day they discovered that the German division were concentrated between Pletzzo and Gorizia.

Some Italian battalions left their posts and fled without arms or- equipment though others were fighting gallantly at Monte Aero and elswhere: but an undermined sector of an Italian wall in the defence had given way and the rest was .in vain. The enemy was through at once. Across the Isonzo the Austro-Ger-mans began to pour down the valley towards Cividale and Undine.

ITALY’S RETRFiAT. A STIRRING ACCOUNT. [Received this day at 1.20 a.m.,) LONDON, Nov. 4. Mr Ward Price coninues: vm Saturday morning it was clear that Udine was doomed. An immense sacrifice of territory must he made in order to save the Third Army.

As I crossed the Isonzo, I found Italian engineers ready to blow up the bridge. The roads were blocked with carts, motor lorries and pack animals,, though fortunately the road was not shelled at night. The scenes during the retreat resembled Gustave Dore' s conception of the “Day of Judgment.” Houses, sheds, depots, and stores of every kind crackled in the flames. The sky was ablaze with the reflected glare. The town of Palmanova was accidentally burnt by flames from burning dumps. In thirty-one hours, my. train covered fifteen miles, so T got out and walked.

On either side of the train there plodded an endless stream of soldiers, fleeing townspeople and peasantry.. The retreat continued for four days. Many died, hut hundreds of thousands got behind the Tagliamento somehow. Flooded rivers, tho marshy district and torrential rains prevented the AustroGor mans from closely pursuing. BATTLE CONTINUING. [Received this day at 1.20 a.m.,) ROME, Nov. 5.

The “Popolo Romano” states the Tagliamento battle is likely to continue violently for some time, on the Italian left. HOLDING THE ENEMY. [Received this day at 1.20 a.m.,)

WASHINGTON, Nov. 5

An official despatch. state s the Italians are holding the Teutons everywhere. A GERMAN ADVANCE. [Received. This Day at 8.50. a.m.) ROME, Nov. 5. The German s have crossed the Tagliamento.