THE ITALIAN FRONT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3315, 26 September 1917, Page 16

THE ITALIAN FRONT.

Cables from Rome state that the Italian offensive cannot be considered as ended. Preparations aro going on for an advance beyond Monte San Gabrielle. The heavy Austrian attacks have failed. A heavy new Italian offensive is to be undertaken m tho Balkans. Italy is assured of sufficient winter food by the excess of her wheat crop. The Italian Embassy in Washington has received advices that the Italians have pushed back the enemy on the River "Vojusa (Southern Albania), and the Italian army is moving eastward through Albania, thus menacing the Bulgarians' right flank m Macedonia.

Mr Julius Price, who is at General Cadorna's headquarters, says an anomalous state of affairs exists on the whole of the Isonzo front. A working interregnum has been established, in which both sides are fevepshly completing their preparations to resume hostilities on a big scale till it is a question which belligerent is first ready. The Austrian? converted the Bainsizza Plateau into a veritable fortress, but they were so confident that the Italian guns could not drive them out that they neglecetd to provide lines of communication with the exception of a few short tracts, and had nothing in the nature of a system of roads for military purposes when the Italian offensive commenced. This dearth of roads greatly hampered the Austrian commander during the so-called strategic retreat. General Cadorna throughout took advantage of fcho absence of Austrian preparations and immediately upon the heels of the attackers came reservists, who enlarged the rough road 3, enabling the Italians to keep in touch unul the retreating Austrians were brought to bay close to the extreme edge of the plateau. The position, which is of great jatural strength, is being daily made more accessible for heavy artillery transport to enable the Italians to resume their advance. Not a day passes without local which end in the Austrians being ejected from strong positions. Events are following the course which General Oadorna foresaw, whereby the Austrians are being driven back to the mountains encircling the plateau. An Italian semi-official message states that Lord Derby, accompanied by Lieu-tenant-general Sir 0. F. N. Mac-ready (Ad-jutant-eeneral to the Forces) and Majorgeneral F. B. Maurice, spent four days as the guest of the Italian General Staff. They had luncheon with the Kinc and visited the front, where aft-y- greeting the British artillerymen thev were able to form an idea of Italy's difficulties and successes. The New York Times correspondent with the Italians states that King Victor Em-

inanuel lives among h:s troops in a modest villa, and works unceasingly seeing to the comfort of the troops.