The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-10-29
SMASHING ITALIANS
OUT FLAT

SMASHING ITALIANS
OUT FLAT
CONTINUED from page IL
now in the enemy's hand after bare
weeks push. BY enormous massine
of men and guns. the Germans simply
smothered the Italians. They swarm
ed through mountain passes; thelI
sheer weight toppled over Italian de
lenses.
The Teutonic armies are now Tess
than ten miles from Udine, the 1tal
ian railway center. What Rome frank
Iy declared was the "cowardice" OF
certain of it's units in the second
army, permitted Teutonic thanking
move which swept the enemy wedge
through the Italian lines. Goriza was
retaken. The invaders crashed
through to the Italian plains. CiV1d'
ael, an Italian city was taken.
1t was expected today that Cadorna
would make every effort to form
new defensive line in Tagliamento
river approximately ten miles back
from the line on which the hghting
was in progress today. This river is
the first natural defense barrier In
the plains section. With a compare
tive flat terrain clear to this river,
there was faint hope here today the
Italians would be able to stop the
German advance much before that
line.
France was relied upon to make
the first contribution to Italy's needs.
The French cabinet met Sunday even
ing for consideration of the problem.
Not All One Sided.
BERNIE. Oct. 29.-Twenty thous-
and Austrians and Germans have
been lost so far in the drive against
Italy, according to information from
Austrian sources received here today.
Confident Of Holding.
ROME, Oct. 29.-Italy has strong
defensive lines with which there is
every confidence here today General
Cadorna can stop the sweep of the
German-Austrian armies.
An authoritative source today point
ed out that prudence dictates the
evacuation of positions which are or
great use in an offensive sense but
which are dangerous practically
useless-defensively This policy has
marked General Cadorna's withdraw
ais. He is now retreating to posi-
lions much more formidable than the
present front, on which there Is
complete certainty here that he will
be able to resist all enemy efforts.
Italy Not Down and Out Yet.
LBy ]. W. T. Mason, Written for the
United Press.]
NEW YORK, Oct. 29.-The Austro.
Germans have won their first battle
in their effort to drive Italy out Of
the war, but the situation is no more
serious for the allied cause than
were the early successes of the Ger
mans when they attempted to cap
ture Verdun and paralyze Frances
morale.
The German thrust at verdun
caught the French Just as the Ital-
ians have been taken unawares by
the present Teutonic offensive. But
as the French were able to hold firm
after the first shock. SO may the Ital-
fans maintain their new line when
the initial Teutonic impetus Is spent.
No such prolonged offensive can be
maintained by the Austro-Germans In
Italy as the Hohenzollern crown
prince continued against Verdun be-
cause neither men nor munitions are
available in such numbers and guam
titles.
This fact Is to the advantage Of
General Cadorna, as is also the cir
cumstance that the advance of the
Teutons is so bending the battle front
as greatly to shorten it.
The Italians, though losing heavily
in captured men and guns, are now
better able to concentrate their re-
serves than when the Austro-German
advance began.
Any superiority in leadership that
the Germans may present might be
more than counterbalanced by the
TACT that the present Teutonic lines
OF communication into Italy is
through difficult mountain country
where fatal delays may occur. The
Teutons have advanced perhaps ten
miles into Italy along a five mile
front. The Italians still hold five
times this area OF Austrian territory
to the west and south Of Goritz. Ser
ious the situation undoubtedly is,
but there is no reason yet for ex-
treme pessimtsm.
Forced to Fall Back.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 29.-General
first determined stand against the
Austro-German invasion of Italy on
the Tagliamento river, official Italian
cables indicated today.
Cadorna Is now making a tremend-
GUS effort to save the third Italian
army stationed at the Gulf Of Trieste's
end of the Italian line, the cables
added
Cadornas decision to fall back ap-
proximately sixty miles to the Tag
liamento river means that he has
found it necessary to sacrifice 4
strip Of territory-sixty miles wide
at its widest point-stretching forty
five miles along the gulf Of Trieste
and extending northward more than
12O miles. Among the larger cities
included in the territory which will
be given up are Udine, Tariento and
particularly Cividale where all Ital-
ian stores and ammunition have been
held in reserve. Much Of this ma
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