THE ITALIAN RETREAT.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 November 1917, Page 3

THE ITALIAN RETREAT.

REARGUARD CUT OFF, SIXTY THOUSAND ISOLATED. VALOR OF COVERING TROOPS. London, Nov. .1. Mr. Ward Price, official correspondent oil the Italian front, telegraphs: "I accompanied the Third Army from the Carso. These troops were most chccr■ful, and their commander, the Duke of Aosta, was calm and confident. Last evening his army saved the bulk of its guns. The right wing of the Second Army also retifld regularly from Sabotino to Gore, the troops, on the loft of the Second Army also falling back steadily from its mountain positions. "The Gpneral Staff is, naturally, prohibiting the description of details of the retreat; but throughout Saturday nisht I saw the sky constantly and vividly > lit up, followed by tho roar and clouds of black smoke, telling of aminunitioti depots being blown up, stores being burnt, and bridges being destroyed. A rainstorm for three hours increased the hardships, and it must have meant death to many of tliose who were wounded while covering the retreat; but it delayed the advance of the enemy. The situation is undoubtedly grave, but it cannot crush Italy, There were only a few casualties to the British 12in gunners before retiring. One British gun was so nearly abandoned that its gunners destroyed its breech, but it was saved with the others." ENEMY'S RAPID ADVANCE. Later advices explain the loss of the rearguard of the Isonzo army, v, lion the enemy advanced with great rapidity from the north q,nd cut off the Lsonzo rearguard covering the right flank, isolating 60,000 men. It is not clear how far the Carso army was involved. The Italians have withdrawn behind the Tagliamento, abandoning and destroying the eastern bridgeheads, with the enemy holding the left bank. Prisoners taken before tho debacle report that the Austrian Emperor recently addressed the armies in a small Tyrol town, promising a successful and bloodless invasion of Italy and an early peace. The Austro-German advance southwards along the Camic roads has been remarkably fast, covering 12 miles daily, and Cadorna's retreat was hampered by the loss of his supply services owing to storms and the congestion of the roads and rivers in flood. The Morning Post's expert says that the country behind the Tagliamento has disadvantages as a site for a decisive battle, being intersected l>y .parallel streams impeding supply or retreat, and exposed ta turning movements based on the Pontebba and Ploeck,en passes.

The Mail correspondent at Milan says the Anstro-Gernians are risking everything upon completing the Italian rout before the Allies arrive. A great battle is impending upon the plains, and perhaps will decide the whole war. PACIFIST PROPAGANDA. An American correspondent stales that General Cadornn's reference to inadequate resistance is the keynote of the situation, Italy had splendidly organised her forces on the Carso and Trentino, but the armies were weak and untried elsewhere. The American testifies to the fortitude of the main bodv. He admits that the retreat did not move like clockwork, but there was a disorderly collapse of the left wing. This was largely due to enemy pacifist propaganda, which had made serious inroads.

London, Nov. 2.

The Italians have now retreated approximately 30 miles Apparently the second and third armies are clear of their pursuers, and are retreating in good order. The covering troops are fighting splendidly, delaying the advance, l'he morale of the first line, rear and reserve troops is stated generally to be excellent. A large number of depot officers are demanding that they be recalled. The front still remains in danger. The enemy may debouch from one of the many Trentino passes and attempt an attack in the rear. The inhabitants am carrying out an orderly evacuation, and numbers are reaching Rome. The nuns refused to leave the Cividalc Convent, where they were acting as Red CrosS nurses, declaring their faith in Italian arms and the Madonna, whose shrine was erected on a taotintain in the midst of the battlefield.

BRITISH CtA'S SAVED. Renter's Paris correspondent says that all the British batteries were saved, but the men suffered mucli from cold and torrential rain and hunger during the retreat Mr. Maepherson. Parliamentary Secretary for the War Office, confirms the statement. A telegram from Austrian headquarters, published in the Zurich Post, graphically describes the Italians' success in destroying the vital communications and depots in Gotz. Whoil the Austrian patrols entered the town the whole surroundings were illuminated by the blazing bridges, magazines and stoves. There was a long succession of explosions as one after another was blown up. The great railway bridge, also the street bridges, were destroyed, and the whole area round tho railway station was aflam!'. Tho Kaiser has ordered another spasm of jubilation, and the flags are displayed again in Prussia and Alsace-Lorraine. Salutes were fired, and the Kaiser telegraphed to von Bulovv: "Pouring rain and miry roadi will not arrest your swift and victorious course. Forward with God, and teach our faithless ally what German strength and wrath will accomplish." In the House of Commons Mr. Maepherson, Parliamentary Secretary to the War Office, said that General Cadorna and the Italian Government had foreknowledge of the offensive, but did not inform the British staff, nor doubt their ability to resist. They asked for no help before they were attacked. Reports from' Italy are more hopeful. They claim that the main body of the army is saved, and the broken detachments have reformed and gained the Tagliiimento defences. The cavalry operated on the largest scale of the whole war, making brilliant obstructive charges on the Friuliar. Plains, which before the war were their manoeuvring grounds, Paris newspapers describe the wave of patriotism which is sweeping over Italy. Infernal dissensions have disappeared as if by magic.

The Journal sUtcs that the Germans have already lost the battle politically, while militarily they have won only the first stage. The Milan Municipal Council, which is a Socialist body, has issued a stirring appeal to the population to be calm, and show the enemy he was mistaken in his calculation to dis-unite and discourage the people.