ITALY.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 September 1917, Page 5

ITALY.

WHO WILL BE READY FIRST? i PREPARATIONS FOR NEXT BATTLE. AU<STRTANS' DEARTH OF ROADS.

Received Sept. 20, 11 p.m. London, Sept. 20.

Mr. Julius Price, correspondent at General Cadorna's headquarters, says an anomalous state of affairs is existing on the whole Isonzo front. A working interregnum lias been established, wherein both sides are feverishly eompleti'j£ preparations to resume hostilities on a big scale, till it will be a oucstion as to which .belligerent is first ready. The Austrians had converted the Bair.sizza plateau into a veritable fortress, and 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 ohor! 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 the so-called strategic retreat. General Cadorna throughout took advantage of the absence of the Austrian preparations, and immediately upon the heels of attackers came the, reservists, who enlarged the rough roads, enabling the Italians to keep touch until the retreating Austrians were brought, to bay close to the extreme edge of the plateau. It is a position of great natural strength, but it is being daily made more accessible for heavy artillery and transport, which will enable the Italians to resume their advance. There is not a day without local otfensives, which end in the Austrians being ejected from strong positions. Events are following the course General Cadorna foresaw, whereby the Austrians are being driven back to the countains encircling the plateau.

ITALY'S WORK. SEEN BY NOTABLE ENGLISHMAN. Received Sept. 20, 11 p.m. Loudon, Sept. 20. An Italian semi-official message States that Lord Derby, accompanied by General Macready and General Maurice, were for four days the guest" of the Italian general staff. They luncheoned with the King and visited the front, where, aiter greeting the English artillerymen, they were able to form an idea of Italy's difficulties and successes.

A TREASONABLE MOVEMENT. FINANCED BY THE ENEMY. Received Sept. 20, 11 p.m. Rome, Sept. 20. . The authorities have discovered a treasonable circular issued by a Socialist committee in Florence. The circular demands the immediate end of the war and tho commencement of a fight for the expropriation of land. Socialists generally strongly object to the extremists' propaganda, watch J3 fed by German secret funds. AUSTRIAN ATTACKS REPELLED ON BAINSIZZA PLATEAU. London, Sept. 19. An Italian official isessage states: — 'We repulsed attacks on the Bainsizza Plateau.