The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-10-28
ITALIAN ROUT
CROWS; $4,000
MADE CAPTIVE
Germans and Austrians Are
Now Attacking Passes to
Plains Of Venezia.
HAVE TAKEN 500 GUNS
Mackcnsen and Ludendorff
Directing 100000 Troops
Southern Line Holding.

LONDON. Oct. 27.--W1th every hour
the disaster TO the Second Italian Army
on TIE Isonzo front grows more serious.
The report from Berlin tonight places
thc number OF prisoners taken by tho
Germans at about $4,000 and the number
OF guns captured at more than 500.
There .las been no such disastrous defeat
since the drive into Russia under tho
same commander. who Is now directing
operations on the italian front. Field
Marshal Mackensen. and he is using
much the same methods in his srna shing
advance.
The southern part OF the Italian line,
In the Gor1tz sector and below 1t, Is not
yet in serious peril. but the menace is
becoming real against the rich plains OF
objective. The Germans are barred from
this region by q series OF mountain
passes Immediately west OF their present
position, which Is few miles within
the Italian border. and II Is hoped that
the Italians will be able TO hold fast to
these gateways into the heart Of north
arn laly So far there Is no sign of a
break there.
Emperor Charles Leads Army.
The German official statement to-day
asserts that the whole Italian line down
to the Carso. south OF Goritz, Is shaken.
but there Is nothing to Indicate that this
Is true. Emperor Charles Of Austria il
In chief command and apparently he is
using practically the whole Austria n
n AAx-Sooa frnrr9 pa a the Ana-
triar force consists OF $50 battalions. re-
enforced by ten German divisions. an op-
Grating army OF more than 100000. Gen.
Won Ludendorff. the German First Quar-
termaster- General and the so-called
brain Of the German General STAFF, Is
said to be supervising operations.
King Victor Emmanuel arrived in
Rome this morning for consultations re-
garding the Cabinet crisis.
The German headquarters statement
follows:
The operation prepared under the
personal supreme leadership Of his
Apostolic Majesty Emperor Charles Of
Austria. King OF Hungary, against the
main force Of the Italian army de-
velop!ng with tho collaboration OF tho
Incompatible thr,isting power of tho
German troops which are advancing
shoulder to shoulder with their brave
brothers in arms to battle on the
I-onso. has achieved great successes.
The Second italian Army Is defeated.
Favored by good weather Ger
man and Austro-Hungarian divisions,
breaking the resistance Of the enemy
many times. pressed forward irresistl-
hly over heights and through the val
lcrs. The deep mountain ridge Of Stol
vas captured by the Royal and I'm
rerial Twenty-second Rife Division.
The strongly fortified summit of Monte
Matajur. 1,64l meters high. fell Thurs
day morning. twenty-three hours after
tho beginning Of our attack az Tolmino,
Thanks are due TO the outstanding
activity Of Lieut. SCHNEIDER. who with
four companies OF the 63d Upper Sil-
esan Infantry Regiment stormed
strong italian points OF support. The
achievement IN battle and marching
of all our troops. which are press
ing toward the Italian plain through
the spurs OF the Julian Alps. are
above all praise.
Tho number Of prisoners has in
creased to so.oOG and the captured
guns $50. Ines.imable quantities Of
war materials are yet to be ealved
from the captured Italian positions.
Twenty-six airpianes have heen
brought down in the last two days
The italian front is shaking as far
as wippach. On the Carso plateau
the enemy Is holding his positions.
More Prisoners and Guns Taken.
Night report-On tho Italian front
good progress was made also to-day,
the number OF prisoners taken-pre-
viously reported as 6o.oo0--has been
increased by few more thousands.
ba har of In
creased to more than 500,
The statement by the Italian War
Once to-day reads:
After having crossed our boundary
lire between Monte Canin and the
head Of the Judrio Valley, the enemy
Is attempting to reach an opening on
the plains.
On tho Carso the hostile effort II
Increasing Strong offensive thrusts
by the enemy were repulsed by our
troops
A semi -oflcial statement issued last
night says the struggle on tho Isonzo
front Is more than bitter. and that its al
are undecided The situati
created by the power Of the enemy says
the announcement, Ia certainly grave"
Tho statement says headquarters has
taken necessary measures and that II
the troops remember that on ten differ
ent occasions they defeated the enemy
on his formidable Csrso positions he 1,
unlikely to tread the national soil long
The thanks of the country are due -
the FIFTH Bersaglieri Brigade. which In
the last few days has held the Globocak
position at the Auzza Gorge and Ia de-
Tending II by indefatigable and magnlf-
rent counter attacks. during which
prisoners have been taken.
Foe Headed Toward CivtdaIe.
Continuing tho semi mi-of,cial announce
inent says:
At tho head OF Natisons Valley and
at the head Of its confluence enemy
regiments are headed toward Civil
dale. to the south Of the communica-
tions with the Central Isonzo
In tho presence OF this threat Il !
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