THE ITALIAN RETREAT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 1018, 10 November 1917, Page 5

THE ITALIAN RETREAT.

DECISIVE BATTLE BEGINNING. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association WASHINGTON, Nov. 8.

Cables from Romo state that a decisive battle is beginning in Italy, and the army is manoeuvring- for position. French, and British reinforcements are massing on the Piavo river lino. . . Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. LONDON, Nov. 8.

An Italian official message says:—We continued the .withdrawal of onr line yesterday. The larger units retired unmolested. There were numerous engagements between the Vittorio hills and tho confluence of the Monticano river with the Liven/.a. in which wo succeeded in detaining the enemy’s advance. Our aeroplanes renewed their bombardments of the enemy along tho Taghamento. AUSTRIANS' STILL PURSUING. Auaß'tHan-New Zealand Cable Association. Received November 10, 11.35 a.in. LONDON. Nov. 9. A wireless Austrian official message says: Tfio Italians arc in full retreat towards the Piavo. Our pursuing operations are continuing systematically. With the co-opera-tion of 'the Austro-Hungarian mountain troops wo compelled some thousands of Italians to surrender south-west of lolmezzo. GERMANS CLAIM TO HAVE CAPTURED 250,000 PRISONERS. Australian-New A^rciatmn. A wireless German official message says: Our detachments advancing along the mountain roads have broken the resistance „f die Italian rearguards. An outflanking movement cut. off the retreat of the Italians in the middle of the lagha.nento me. etween Tolme.zzo and Gomona, also the fortified Monte San Simeon. Already we have taken prisoner 17,000. including a genial and have taken 80 guns. I'lffhtmg developed on the plain a’ong the Ltvenza, ilie Austro-Gcrmans vigorously advancing, and despite the destroyed bridges " e forced a crossing and threw back the enemy lo the westward. Our total'cap tm o are over 250,000 prisoners and 2300 guns.