ITALIAN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 21 September 1917, Page 5

ITALIAN FRONT.

ITALIANS STEADILY SMASHING AUSTRIANS. LONDON, Sept 19. Mr Julius Price, who is attached to Cadorna's headquarters, says': An anomalous state of affairs is existing on the whole Tsonzo front. A working interregnum has been established, wherein both sides are feverishly completing preparations to resume hostilities on a big scale, till the question is: Which belligerent will be first ready? The Austrians .had converted the Bainsizza Plateau into a veritable fortress, but so confident were they 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. W-hen the Italian offensive commenced this dearth of roads greatly hampered the Austrian commander during his so-called strategical retreat. General Cadorna throughout took advantage of the absence of Austrian preparations and immediately upon the heels of the'attackers came reservists who enlarged the rough roads, enabling the Italians to keep in touc'i until the retreating Austrians were brought to bay close to the extreme edge. The plateau is a position of great natural strength and this is being daily made more accessible for heavy artillery and transport to enable the Italians to resume the advance. There is not a day without local offensives, which end in the Austrians being ejected from strong positions. Events are following the course Cadorna foresaw, whereby the Austrians are being driven back to the mountains encircling the plateau.

BRITISH GENERALS VISIT ITALIAN FRONT. LONDON, Sept 20. Italian semirofficial.' —Lord Derby, accompanied by Generals Macready, and Maurice, were four days the guests of the Italian General Staff. They were luncheoned by the King and visited the front, where, after greeting the English artillerymen, they were able" to form an idea of Italy's difficulties and successes. SOCIALIST TRAITORS. ROME, Sept 19. The authorities have discovered a treasonable circular issued by the Socialist committee in Florence. It demands the immediate end of the war, and the commencement of a fight for the expropriaton of land. The Socialists generally strongly object to the extremists' propaganda, which has been fed with German secret funds.