Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-10-30
Reunited Lines of Routed
Forces Believed Strong
Enough to Repulse
Teutonic Drive.
CHECK MEANS VICTORY
Assault Launched in An
ticipation Of Complete
Annihilation.

WASHINGTON, Oct o9.-Word
from Rome today that the Italian line
was holding against tho terrific as
sault of the Austro-German forces.
was received by official Washington
with eager interest and frank relief:
Military authorities have not disguised
their keen anxiety as press rcports
showed the Italians wavering back
ward under the crushing blows or the
enemy. -.
Satisfaction was found also In the
announcement from London that steps
already had been taken by the Frsnch
and British to support the itaha9
OF what operations that announce
ment might foreshadow.
May BE Able TO Hold.
Even accepting the German claims
at face value many officials believe
General Cadorna will be able to check
the drive Of the morale OF his army
was not shattered. The announce.
ment from Rome that all elements OF
the italian forces were obeying orders
of the general staff was viewed as set
ting at rest for the time. at least, the
gravest fears for the final outcome.
The announcement was taken 70
mean that General Cadorna had sue
ceedcd In reuniting the forces scat
tered by the first fierce rush or the
Austro- Germans and was falling back
behind we'll organized defense 10
the line selected for a stand.
In his weekly summary made public
today, Secretary Baker said Italy was
passing through a critical moment.
The statement was prepared before
the full extent of the attack had de-
yeloped, but It indicated the opinion
in military circles that General Ca
dorna might find It necessary to sur
render much Of the ground won 30 re-
Gently by his forces when only <hs
Austrians faced them.
Grandstand Play.
! The belief prevails that the under-
| lying motive il a purely political one.
Army officers point out that II was
launched with lavish stage effects;
with the Austrian emperor an.
nounced as In supreme command ana
with the German general Won Mae
kensen as the guiding genius or the
movement. Already Won Mackensen
has swept back the Russian lines.
oyerrun Serbia and all but crushed
the Rumanian forces In similar drives:
He is regarded as the striking head
of tho German war machine, the man
OF the hour when headionB ASSAULT
is to be delivered.
With such an association OF diSnts
taries leading the heralded onslaught
some observers assert that anything
short of the humiliation OF the Italian
army must be regarded as a negative
German victory II not defeat.
Reports from Rome that poiiticai
party lines are vanishing In the great
emergency support the belief that no
political upheaval Is to be expected.
On the contrary. In the view OF some
diplomats. the assault probably Will
serve to steel the Italian people to CO.
operative effort against the enemy
such as they have only dreamed OF
heretofore.
Behind the position in which the
Italians now have been forced lies the
old defense line established many
years ago by Italian soldiers, the line
OF '66. II was selected because OF
natural advantages and along the line
new rail and wagon roads are SAID
to have been provided In anticipation
of a backward movement.