ITALY PREPARED.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 4579, 7 June 1917, Page 5

ITALY PREPARED.

SIR W. ROBERTSON’S PRAISE

FOR THE ARMY

During a three days’ stay in Italy Sir William Robertson, Chief of the General Staff of the British Army, made a tour with General Cadorna of the Italian Front from the Carso to the Trentino. On the conclusion of his visit Sir W. Robertson journeyed back to England direct. King Viotor Emmanuel has bestowed on Sir Willian Robertson the Grand Cross of the Order of SS. Maurice and Lazarus. A Rome wireless Press message says that Sir William wag astonished and verv favourably impressed by the splendid physical condition of the men and the calrtjness with which they faced'the difficulties and dangers of the most perilous front in Europe. Sir William highly praised the perfection of all branches of the Italian Army, and he was astonished at the magnificent organisation in the rear. This praise is of great value, not because it comes from General Robertson, who is a specialist on the subject but by reaeon of the fact that these branches of the service have been developed to a pitch of perfection in the British Army. This visit of Sir William’s lends colour to the rumours that Hindenburg meditates a big attack on Italy.