Italians in Retreat.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 22 November 1917, Page 4

Italians in Retreat.

SCENES ON THE ROADS,

ARRIVAL 01 THE BRITISH.

Mr Ward Price, the British official correspondent on the Italian front, states that agitators in the army, and also in the interior, were found to bo largely supplied with German money. Their propaganda was spocially effective between Peezzo and Gorz, where the troops were for six months without the test of battle. These troops failed, and many of them deserted without arms or equipment. The retreat from Cividalc and Udinc was one of the saddest sights of the war. There was a pitiful panic among the shopkeepers and poor families in attempts to save their effects. Even children were harnessed to cartloads of goods, while shells from the Austrian 12in guns were screaming past. The civilian exodus was for two days crawling along the road. Then -it was overwhelmed as the armies arrived. Some of the worst rigors wero suffered by the British in hospital at Versa. Lorries which bad been arranged for the evacuation did not arrive, and it was decided to try and march to the railway. A few ambulances were available for the worst of the wounded. The rest were compelled to hobble on foot through the darkness and rain all night. On arriving at the railway station it was found that the carriages were packcd with soldiers and refugees. In great misery they had to intermingle with the shabby multitude. The last British gun continued firing while the second last was being removed, though there was nothing betwoen it and the enemy.

For four days the great retreat went on. The first detachments ate all tlic military food at the depots. The sccond detachments were fed generously by the villagers. The next was rcduccd to starvation. Many died, but hundreds of thousands reached the Taglianiento somehow, forming an organised army once more. The flooded rivers and broken bridges prevented the enemy from following more closely or cutting in from the north. Moreover, the ground over which the Third Army retreated was marshy. Torrential rains made tlic roads the only means of advance, and prevented the aeroplanes from bombing the dense-ly-packed columns creeping westward. Occasionally Austrian airmen flew through tho storms, and, descending low, ruthlessly bombed and machinegunned the detachments. One British Red Cross car was honeycombed with bullets. The Germans reachcd Gcmona surprisingly quickly, but were hungry and wearied, and wore easily scattered by tho cavalry. Tho passage of British contingents to tho front was the occasion for touching manifestations of welcome and friendliness. Men and women of all classes flocked to the stations, offering fruit, cigarettes, and flowers to the tired men, who responded gratefully. They left an impression of cheerfulness and vitality which encouraged the onlookers. The demonstrations assumed greater proportions along the country roads. Inhabitants everywhere rushed to greet them. They were much impressed by the soldiers' stalwart forms.