ITALY’S DANCER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 4710, 7 November 1917, Page 5

ITALY’S DANCER.

ENEMY FORCE THE TAGLIAMENTO.

ALLIES’ TROOPS TO THE RESCUE.

AUSTRO-GERMANS AGAIN HELD UP.

latest reports brighter.

OUR SOLDIERS WARMLY WELCOMED.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. ROME, Nov. 6. , The Germans have crossed the Tagliamento. An Italian official message states: The enemy has reached ■ the right bank of the Tagliamento river, northwards of Pinzano, intensifying the pressure' against our left wing. The New York Times’ military correspondent states: Lack of shells is an invalid excuse for the disaster to General Cadorna’s armies. .The real explanation is that Italy concentrated her forces at Tolminto Gulf, on the Panzaio line, instead of on the Isonza. Cadorna was out-generalled. The fate of the main Italian army hangs in the. balance. The Austrians made an attempt to debouch in the rear from Lake (Tarda positions. • They were held up, hut the German.pressure on the left wing at Tagliamento is most intense. One western bridgehead has been lost, and a retreat towards the Piave seems inevitable.

ENEMY BEING HELD.

FLOODS UNFORTUNATELY SUBSIDE.

FIGHTING RETREAT PROMISED

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.

(Received Nov. 6, 7.10 p.m.) ..LONDON, Nov. 5. -Air. AA 7 ard Price telegraphs:— Enemy, patrols crossed the Tagliamento oil the Italians’ left, hut are being, held.. Even if the retirement must be continued to a stronger line, the retreat will be a fighting withdrawal owing to tlie. delay which the crossing of the Tagliamento caused to the Austro-Germans. The rain has ceased, and the floods which might have lasted for weeks have unfortunately subsided. Large forces of Austrians are five miles beyond the Tagliamento using the Pinzano bridgehead, but the crossing does not imply a fresh Austrian victory, as the river is only the first line of the defences upon which General Cadrona is depending. The struggle will largely consist of a race between the enemy’s heavy artillery and that of the Allied reinforcements.

Tlie Italians are sorting themselves out and being re-equipped, but the inevitable shortage of ammunition and a considerable loss of guns is a grave drawback to the Italian defences, though their position is naturally strong and capable of being made stronger. It is believed' that the Austrian attack west of Lake Garda is only a feeler, hut the Italians in Trentino must be ready for severe -trials.

NEW AUSTRIAN GAS.

AVHAT THE ITALIANS SUFFERED

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association (Received Nov. 6, 7.10 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, Nov. 5.

Tlie Gorizia correspondent of the Budapest paper Pesti Perlap states that tlie Austrians attacked _ the city with a new poison gas, tlie invention of a Viennese professor which is far more terrible and deadly than any hitherto used in the war. The Italian gas masks were of lio avail to counteract its effects.

ALLIES’ TROOPS ARRIVE.

OUTLOOK MORE HOPEFUL

GOOD NEWS EXPECTED SOON

Australian and N.Z. Cable Assoication

(Received Nov. 6, 11.40 p.m.) ROME, Nov. 5. Generals Foch and Robertson have already joined General Cadorna. Correspondents describe demonstrations while the British troops were travelling to the front. They were offered flowers, fruit, and tobacco by great cheering crowds. A Turin message states that the arrival of the French troops also aroused unbounded enthusiasm, the soldiers fraternising with the people and singing the Marseillaise and Garibaldi’s Hymn. Concentration towards the. future field of resistance is progressing at night, every train being loaded with men and material going to the front. The outlook is more cheerful, and good neWs may be heard before long.

ALLIES’ PROMPT AID.

BRITISH AND FRENCH PREMIERS IN ITALY.

ADVICE AND ENCOURAGEMENT

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association

(Received Nov.'.6, 11-40 p.m.) PARIS, Nov. 6. The fact that Genera] Focli in September last drew up complete military plans with General Cadorna accounts for the swiftness with which the Anglo-French reached Italy, which has surprised the Austro-Germans. Mr. Lloyd-George and" M. Painleve have gone to Italy to give encouragement, advice, and warning to Italy, particularly in regard'to Boloism in Italy, which is of Socialist origin.

ITALIAN ARMY’S DISGRACE.

BROKEN BY AN ENEMY HANDFUL.

MILITARY CRITIC’S VIEW.

The Times. (Received Nov. 7, 12.20 a.in.) LONDON, Nov. 6

Colonel Repington says:- , Tile most remarkable German success of the war has been won by. only a handful of troops. Von Buelow’s army - consists of six divisions—two front the French andi four from. the Russian-Romanian fronts. They routed an Italian army far superior in strength, proving again the predominance of moral over material forces. Only subversive propaganda can explain the terrible stain on the Italian army’s name. None can recognise the heroes of the past an this distressing rout, involving the-great-est Ailed disaster of the war.