ITALY’S WAR

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17628, 5 November 1917, Page 5

ITALY’S WAR

THE TEUTON DRIVE. ' ON THE TAGLIAMENTO LINE. a anil N.Z. Cable Association and Router. LONDON, November 2. An Italian official report states that thero has been reciprocal artillery firing on the iaghamento. Our machine gun fire repulsed the enemy patrols which advanced to tho river bank. ENEMY PRESSURE ON LEFT WING. A. and N.Z. Cable Aoaociation and Reutor. (Received November 4, 5.5 p.m.) ROME, November 3. An Italian official message says:—The enemy pressure was heavier on the left wing 01 the Tagliamento line. M o detained attempts to reach tlie right bank of the river. THE BAINSIZZA TOLL. NEW YORK, November 2. Cables from Rome state that 30,u00 Germans, including two division generals, were killed at tho Bainsizza iTato*The Anglo-French reinforcements have arrived at Tagliamento. GREAT BATTLE IMPENDING. United Service. ROME, November 2. The Austro-Germans aro risking everything upon completing the Italian rout before the Allies arrive. A great battle is impending upon the plains, perhaps deciding tho whole war.

ENEMY CLAIMS. A. and N.Z. Cable Aesociation and Reuter. (Received November 4, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, November 2. A wireless German official messago says:—Our attacks on the eastern bank of the Tagliamento compelled the Italian brigades still holding out to retire or surrender. Tho left bank of the river from the Fella Valley to the Adriatic is free of tho enemy. A. and N.Z. Cable Aeaociatian and Reuter. LONDON, November 3. A wireless German official message says:—The Italian prisoners, now total 200,000, and the guns captured 1800. SYSTEMATIC BRUTALITY. United Service. (Received November 4, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, November 3. The evacuation pregnantly recalls the first days of the Belgian retreat. The advancing hosts are laying bare Italy’s richest agricultural districts, burning, pillaging, and ill-treating tho terrorstricken population. It is reportedthat von Mackensen has ordered a systematic campaign of brutality and lust in order to terrorise the people and punish Italy for hev intervention.

THIRD ARMY’S RETREAT. SUPREME HEROISM OF THE TROOPS. LONDON, November 2. War correspondents pay a tribute to the courage and tenacity of the Italian Third Army during the rotreat. The rearguard performed prodigies of valour, despite persistent enemy shelling, and covered the withdrawal of guns by repeatedly charging the .advancing Austrians, five times driving them back into tho Vallone. When the Austrians were likely to occupy positions commanding the Isonzo

bridges, the troops on the Carso bravely resisted, while the artillery by superhuman effort man-handled the guns over tho Isonzo. Tho Bersnglieri and Alpini specially distinguished themselves. Tho Alpini at Monte Nero appear to have fought until exhausted. They were still resisting on Saturday, three days after tho Germans burst through, living on one day’s rations. Aviators last saw them bravely holding tho positions, and dropped bread upon the lines. A wounded officer who managed to escapo from Monte Nero states that the appearance of the Germans in their rear was an almost overwhelming surprise. It transpires that the Germans cleverly deluded the Italians by .leaving themselves a clear passage on one small sector while they rained shells on the remainder of tho front. The bombardment was so terrific that the Italians were utterly helpless while it lasted, and could only shelter in caverns and dug-outs. Gas shells wore particularly effective. When tlie tornado ceased the mischief was already done, because during the drumfire and amid the thick clouds of smoke and gas the Italians were unable to observe the small sector left unshelled. The Germans in the meanwhile broke through this sector, and when the Italians prepared to meet the oncoming foo they found themselves cut off in the rear. NO DISORDER IN RETREAT. (Received November 4, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, November 3. Though tho war correspondents on tho Italian front arc not yet permitted to disclose details of the, Ttaljan retreat, the latest accounts show that tho movement was conducted in remarkably good order, despito the prodigious taslc of withdrawing nearly a million men. Tho roads were utterly congested, but apart from the inevitable confusion there was no serious disorder. Military and civilian traffic moved slowly along the roads, torrents of rain adding to the discomfort and difficulty. Tho vast majority suffered acutely from hunger and fatigue. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Milan correspondent says that tho public aro gradually realising the extent of the disaster. There is a growing de-termi-nation to resist the invasion. Giolntti. tho leader of the largest political group, lias offered his whole-hearted co-operation with the now Government. Tho universities of Padua and Pavia eloquently appeal to the people to stiffen the national spirit against the invasion of the barbarians. "The Times" Service. , (Received November 4, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON; November 3. Mr Ward Price states that tho principal cause of tho Italian retreat was that a section of troops, disaffected by German peace propaganda, opened a gap in the heart of the Italian defences, leading to tho cutting off and surrounding of strong mountain positions beyond the river, necessitating a withdrawal of tho whole Isonzo army. Tho Carso army was compelled to follow. If it had delayed its retirement a single hour it would have been irretrievably lost. Many civilians joined tho army rotreat. All manner of vehicles were mixed -with the baggage waggons, and army impedimenta blocked the roads for miles and tho railways were blocked by trains. The enemy rapidly followed the retreat. Patrols oocupicd Udino at seven on Sunday night-, after burnine Cividale Grand Prisca and Polanovn. The Germans tried to rush the Tagliamento bridge on Saturday niirht, but the flooded stream defeated them, sweeping numbers away. Tho Italians wiped out those who succeeded in crossing.