THE ITALIAN REVERSE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17156, 8 November 1917, Page 5

THE ITALIAN REVERSE

INCREASED ENEMY PRESSURE. RETIREMENT FROM TAGLIAMENTO LINE. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and Router. LONDON, November 6. Italian official: Tho enemy have intensified tho pressure from tho Upper Tagliamento against our left wing, and have also pushed detachments towards tho middle lower course of the river. We, in order to establish a now line, were compelled to evacuate portions of territory in the mountain, area, which the enemy have occupied.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. NEW YORK, November 6. It is reported that tho Italians are retreating from the Tagliamento River. PROBABLE RETIREMENT TO PIAVE LINE. ALLIED REINFORCEMENTS POURING IN. Renter's Telegrams. LONDON, November 6. Allied reinforcements are pouring into Italy day and night. PARIS, November 6. Semi-official: If 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 Anglo-French will doubtless succeed in stopping the hostile rush. GERMAN CLAIMS. CONTINUED RETREAT OF ITALIANS. Admiralty, per Wireless Press. LONDON, November 6. German official: We are in possession of the wholo Tagliamento line to the coast. The Italians are retreating between the mountains and the sea. The conflagrations indicate tho route of their retirement. Our pressure has compelled the Italians to give up the mountain front from the Fella Valley as far as Colbrican, north of the Suzana Valley—a width of 150 kilometres. The enemy continue retreating, and our further operations have commenced. (Received Nov. 7, at 11 p.m.) _ German official: Our pursuit of the Italians is progressing. GENERAL VON BERRER'S DEATH. ROME, November 6. General von Berrer was shot by a carabineer while motoring at Udine. He was not killed on the Riga front, as tho Germans claimed. SITUATION STILL GRAVE. ITALIAN LACK OF GUNS. CUNNING GERMAN PROPAGANDA. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, November 6. (Received Nov. 7, at 7.45 p.m.) The Italian situation continues grave. The new retreat covers a front of 100 miles, and large zone 3 of consolidated defence have been abandoned. The troopsare still desperately fatigued, and possess few guns. The Austro-Germans are bringing sufficient light artillery forward to break the Italian formations. The Piave line promises strong features, but it is only 15 miles from Venice.

The German propaganda in Italy was the old lie that the Germans were rescuing the country from British tyranny, and representing England as revelling in luxury and allowing her victims to freeze, starve, and die. This has been skilfully used in both Italy and Russia.

ENEMY CAVALRY USED,

FIRST ACROSS THE RIVER.

The Times. LONDON, November 6. (Received Nov. 7, at 11 p.m.) Mr J. M. N. Jeffries, correspondent of the Daily Mail, states that the cavalry were the first enemy troops across the Tagliamento. The Italian cavalry drove them back, but had to retire before motor machine guns. The general retirement continues in complete order, working to time-table. Enemy scouts are 12 miles westward of the Tagliamento.