ITALIANS CONFIDENT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 16049, 6 February 1918, Page 3

ITALIANS CONFIDENT.

ONWARD MARCH OF ENEMY STOPPED. “The reorganisation of tho entire Italian Army is proceeding apace,” said Senator William Marconi, in an interview granted, recently in Rome to the Associated Press. “It makes us confident that the onward march of the enemy will be definitely stopped.” Senator Marconi had just returned from a tour of thij front from the mouth of the Piave to Monte Grappa, during which lie inspected tho wireless apparatus of the array. “I saw the Duke of Aosta, General Diaz, General Badoglio, and other leading commanders,” ho continued. “All were filled with hope that the worst was over; that the revival-of the moral of the soldiers, which was constantly more noticeable, might give unexpected results. I found everywhere that the spirit of tho troops ivas very high. The men are desirous of talcing revenge for the reverses suffered, and are furious at the thought that any Italians were cheated intobelieving Austrian and German lies when the enemy announced the intentions to lay dowrn arms if the Italians did tho same. . “Tho navy, co-operating with tho army along the coast and in the lower section of the Piave, is gaining splendid successes, to which the British monitors are contributing. The Italian artillery is doing marvels, getting the last ounce possible out of the guns all along the Piave. “I was told that the enemy had suffered very severe losses near Asiago, and also in the mountains between tho Brenta and Piave rivers. The general opinion in high, quarters is that if tho Italians can hold their line for four or five days longer, the immediate danger wall be over. “What wo desire ardently is the closest possible union and cooperation with I have been able already to appreciate the co-operation of the United States in _this great war, but it would bring it home to tho Italians more effectively if they knew that America also was at war with our nearest enemy, Austria.”