CADORNA STRIKES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLI, Issue 11651, 21 August 1916, Page 6

CADORNA STRIKES.

ITALY’? COUNTER-STROKE. STEMMING THE AUSTRIAN INVASION. A vivid story, of bow General j Cadorna paralysed Anstria’s giant plan of invasion of Northern Italy ! is told in the “Corners della Sera” i by the most brilliant and experi- j enced of Italian war correspondents, Luigi Barzini. The Austrian reinforcement of the Trentino front began towards the end of last November. By the middle of March they had begun a definite preparation for their action, the outburst of which had been timed for the middle of May. Such was their utter contempt tor the resisting power of the Italian Army, so implicit wastheir trust in German assurances of Russia’s unpreparedness and paralysis, so colossal was their coefisureuess of smashing through all the Italian defences on the tablelands at one fell blow and of pouring down into the Lombard and Venetian plains in the rear of Italy’s main forces.*on the Isonzo, that they coolly proceeded to denude ' their eastern front of artillery and undertook the frightful risk of choking witli hordes of picked forces the Trentino labyrinth of deep, narrow gorges amidst regions altogether waterless and exceedingly badly off for roads. How, then, did it come about that these gigantic forces, supported by over 1000 guns, mostly of the larger calibres, have been buried back in the space of little more than ['one month, 'leaving over 100,000 of its best soldiers dead or wounded on the field? JOFFRE’S TACTICS. It is here that a still more wonderful story begins. General Cadorna never for a moment expected bis brave troops to be able to withstand the terrific Austrian onslaught by standing on their advanced positions. He was well aware that he must adopt tactics similar to those whereby General Joffre stemmed the tidal wave of German invasion, and saved France by falling back on the far-off Marne.

His plan was dictated by the considerations that whereas the Austrians, from their formidable permaneus tonifications close at hand, could in a few hours parry any attack, from whatsoever direction it might come, and rush forward their huge reserve forces at Trent in to any one of the converging valleys, it was on the other hand imperative tor him to keep his concentrated reinforcements at a good distance read;; to asceiid any particular valley that might be threatened. “Remember, my men,’’ said be, in his stern, historic order of the day to the troops, “that it is here yon have to defend the soil of the Fatherland and the honour of our army. These positions must he defended to the death. ”

- For four days and four nights the Italian State rail ways surpassed by one-third their maximum theoretical capacity by transporting some three-quarters of a million of troops, over 30,000 ollicers, 1000 wagons, and about 100,000 quadrupeds. The second grand new army was marshalled on the spot ready for action, and that very day sure signs appeared of the Austrian advance being definitely checked. THE CRISIS PASSES. The cruelly anxious moments when the dwellers in Vicenza had watched with fast-beating hearts from their housetops the bursting of big shells all around the summits of the mountains,|and when, "even t« the adamantine faith of the general staff, it seemed that the adversary might dash down from Oeugio or Pasuhio or Novsgno, or else shatter the vital positions of the Bucle Pass, thereby causing the collapse of all the defences in the Adige Valley, and the opening of the way to Schio —those moments had now passed. Addressing his magic new army, General Cadorna exclaimed,: “Men of the Fifth Army, happily it is not your lot to overwhelm the enemy in the plain. lam sending you up yonder to help your sorelytried comrades on the heights.” ii Forthwith Cadorna flashed the order to every sector of the Asiago plateau: “Up,,men, and at them!” Meantime there was being performed a miracle of motor cars and motor lorries. In a single night an entire division was transported to the Carnic Alps, and to the Pasuhio region (on the frontier, s.e. of Roverto) in automobiles. GUNS ON CUSHIONS.

Whole batteries of cannon were rushed up to the Trentiao Alps in this fashion; nor was it a rare sight to see big pieces of mountain artillery journeying to the heights upon the luxurious cushions of some titled aristocrat’s commandeered motor car. Thousands of navvies toiled incessantly at the imperative construction of new roads. To solve the burning problem of an adequate water supply for the hundreds of thousands of combatants, a new artificial lahe was created by damming tbe outlets of a stream. Four hundred odd cistern motors lorries were provided for the transport of water alone.