ITALIANS IN RETREAT.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 November 1917, Page 2

ITALIANS IN RETREAT.

?OE\ r ES Q\ THE ROADS ARRIVAL OF 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 be largely supplied with German money. Their propaganda was specially effective between Peezzo and Gorz, where the trocps ■were for six months without the test of battle. These troops failed, and many of them deserted without arms or equipment. The retreat from Cividale and Tldine was one of the saddest sights of the wnr. There was a pitiful panic amongst the shopkeepers and poor families in attempts to ssve 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 roads. Then it was overWhelmed as the armies arrived.

Some of the worst rigors were suffered by the British in hospital at Versa., Lorries which had been arranged for the evacuation did not arrive, and it was decided to try and march 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 packed 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 between it and the enemy. For four days the great retreat went on. The first detachments ate alt the military food at the depots. The second detachments were fed generously by the villagers. The next was reduced to starvation. Many died, but hundreds of thousands reached the Tagliamento somehow, forming an organised army once more. The flooded rivers and broken bridge? 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 tile roads the only means of advance, and prevented ' the aeroplanes from bombing the dentve-ly-packed columns creeping westward. Occasionally Austrian airmen flew through the storms, and, descending low, ruthlessly bombed and machine-gunned the detachments. One British fted Cross car was honeycombed! with bullets. The Hermans reached Gemona surprisingly quickly, but were hungry and wearied, and were easily scattered by the cavalry. The passage of British contingents to tiie. front was the occasion for touching manifestations of welcome and friendliness. Men and women of all classes flocked to thd 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. Tho 4emonstrations assumed greater proportions along the country roads. Inhabitants everywhere rushed to greet thorn. They were much impressed by the sot diora' stalwart form*