ITALIAN CRISIS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 4711, 8 November 1917, Page 5

ITALIAN CRISIS.

RETREAT FROM TACLIAMENTO. NEW POSITIONS BEING TAK6N UP.

ALLIED REINFORCEMENTS POURING IN.

NEW FRONT CLOSE TO VENICE.

BIG BATTLE PENDING,

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. NEW YORK, Nov. 6. It is reported, l that the Italians are retreating from the Tagliamento. Italian official: The' enemy intensified the pressure from the Upper Tagliamento against our left wing and also pushed detachments towards the middle and lower course of the river.

We, in order to establish our new line, were compelled to evacuate portion of the territory in the mountainous area, which the enemy occupied.

ITALIANS MAY FURTHER RETIRE.

TO NEW POSITION® ON THE PIAVE.

Benter’s Telegrams. PARIS, Nov. 6. Semi-official.lf the hostile pressure on the western bank of the Tagliamento increases, as it probably will, General Cadorna’s army may be obliged to retire to new positions on the Piave, where the arrival of the AngloFrench forces will doubtless succeed in stopping the hostile rush.

GERMAN CLAIMS.

THEIR OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. Beuter’s Telegrams. LONDON, Nov. 6. German official: We are in possession of the whole Tagliamento line to tlie coast. The Italians are retreating between the mountains and the sea, conflagrations indicating the route of the retirement.

Our pressure compelled the Italians to give up the'mountain front from Fejla Valley as far as Colbrican, north of the Sugana Valley, a width of 150 kilometres.

The enemy is retreating. Our further operations have cfommenced.

ALLIED REINFORCEMENTS

Eeuter’s Telegrams. ROME, Nov. 7. Allied reinforcements are pouring into Italy day and night.

SITUATION CONTINUES GRAVE.

DANGEROUS GERMAN PROPAGANDA.

LIES ABOUT ENGLAND

United Services. (Received Nov. 7, 10.20 p.m.) LONDON. Nov. 6. Tlie Italian situation continues grave. • The new retreat covers a front of a hundred miles, and large zones consolidated for" defence have been abandoned.

The troops are still desperately fatigued and possess few guns. The Austro-Germans are bringing sufficient light artillery forward to break the Italian formations. Hie Piave line promises strong features, but is only fifteen miles from Venice. x The German propaganda 'in Italy wa3 the old lie that the Germans were rescuing the country from British tyranny, representing ..England as revelling in luxury and allowing her victims to freeze, starve and die. This was skilfully used in both Italy and Russia..

GENERAL RETIREMENT GONTINUES.

ORDERLY AND ACCORDING TO TIME-TABLE.

The Times. ' (Received Nov 7, 10 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 6. •Mr Jefferies states that cavalry was the first enemy troops to cross the Tagliamento. The Italian cavalry drove them back but had to retire before motor machine gunsA general retirement continues m complete order and working to timetable. -- Enemy scouts are 12 miles westward of the Tagliamento.