New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-07
Cadorna Retiring Twenty
FIVE Miles Toward
Pave Line
German Wedge
Breaks Defences
Pressure on Left Wing
Helps Force Back De-
Tending Armies

been forced 70 abandon the Taglia-
mento River line and are now in full
retreat, from the Alps 70 the sea, tow
ard the Piave. their next natural line
Of defence The retrograde movement
has spread not only along the entire
Tagliamento line. but throughout the
mountain region, on a front Of nearly
one hundred miles from the Fella Val
ley to the Trentino border.
This indicates that Cadorna probably
intends to stand on a straight line be-
hind the Pave, which runs southeast
from the Venetian Alps TO the Adriatic.
Such a move would shorten his de-
fensivs front By approximately 100
miles.
To-day's German official communique
states that the Tagliamento line has
been won by Mackensen and that the
Italians are in retreat through the up
per Venetian plains and from the Fella
Valley to the Colbricon. near the Tren
tino frontier. The Rome War Office,
while admitting the vacuaton Of "por-
tions Of the territory in the mountain
Gus region" makes no mention of a
withdrawal from the whole Taglia-
mento line. However II says that the
enemy has pushed various detach-
ments toward the middle and lower
course" Of the river, which unquestion-
ably implies the forcing back Of the
Italian forces from the western bank.
UoAo.o nr{von Into inc
Apparently. the Austro- Germans
drove a wedge into the Italian line
somewhat near its centre, and stimuli
taneously brought strong pressure TO
bear on Cadorna's left wing. or the
upper reaches of the Iagliamento The
rapid widening Of the breach on the
western bank compelled the Italians 70
draw back their entire line TO escape
development. At the same time, the
front along the mountain district be-
coming untenable, Cadorna withdrew
his forces from all the territory lying
beyond and 70 the north and northwest
of the TagliamentO.
The further retiring movement OF
the Italians does not indicate that the
situation has become any more dan
Ferrous. II was by TO means certain
that Cadorna originally intended TO
stand on the Tagliamento. Many
critics believed the Italian strategy
contemplated only a delaying opera
ton behind that line in order that the
defence Of the Piave might be per-
fected.
The Pave, which lies some twenty
five miles beyond the Tagllamento' al,
fords Cadorna q much shorter ana
probably a vastly stronger defensive
front than the Tagliamento. IL is only
sixty miles in extent and runs nearly
on a straight line from the mountains
10 the sea, At which point 1t IS seven
teen miles from Venice. Moreover
the Italian retreat Will allow more
time for the bringing up Of French ana
British reinforcements, particularly IN
beavv artillery, the lack Of which mas
proved q great handicap.
No More Prisoners Taken
GO far the Germans have reported no
rrr.ber cautures in the forward move
raent so that it is probable the Italan
retreat had been planned beforehand
and Is now being carried out IN an
orderly manner. With the replenlsh-
ing Of their food supplies and the sup
mort Of Allied troops, the morale oil the
Italians Is said 10 have undergone
vast IMPROVEMENT. and strong counter
efforts may be expected soon aiter "a
dorna reaches his new line.
There is bare possibility that tne
italian commander means 70 halt on
tbe River Livenza. before he gets to
the Pave, but the Llvenza line Is
shorter and narrower and would give
hin, few Of thc natural advantages
which 20 with the Piave line. Beyond
the Piave he cannot withdraw without
surrorGering % the enemy Venice and
the whole Of Neuetia, which It ~ eX-
tremely unlikely he would do without
strong iignt.
Germans Are Confident
The Germans are confident Of sue
cess and the scmi-oflicial Berlin news
agency is already preparing the public
for q destruction Of art treasures IN
the capture Of Venice. IN Italy, how
ever. the eventuality Of an Austro-
German crossing Of the Tagliamento
had been forescen clearly, according 70
Il dispatch from the correspondent OF
"The Daily Mail" az Italian headquar-
tiers. The correspondent emphasizes the
seriousness for Italy in the sudden
thinking Of the waters Of the Taglia-
ncntO. lie writes:
Where so much mas gone against
Italy 10 would seem that even the
Tagiiamento has played her false . d.
The enemy. however. has not yet been
able % push further than the bridge
head Of p.nzanO. and Il VIII be ma
terially difficult for him 10 bring up
his invading strength for some time.
The fighting around the river has not
been on a great scale. If the Aus
TRANS have crossed 3! 10 has been large
D. because they bad 70 DO with troops
desperately fatigued 90.
"Ihe situation is changing somewhat.
The ltalians have been reyictualled and
have had some rest There are many
s.gns that their power Of resistance u
rising The morale Of the men has
improved and is becoming more cheer
ful. The arrival Of some Allied COM
rrdcs probably rs an that Is needed %
tgrn them again into a stubbornly re-
s!sting force"
Reitorating that the ovcntuality Of an
enemy crofging Of the Tagiiamcnto had
been forescen, the correspondent adds
that the holding Of the river has not
been an essential part cf the Italian
al - r.Nr