New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-03

shielding operations of the rear guard
which poured deadly fire into the
advancing columns and at the same
time destroyed powder depots, arsSnals
and bridges.
German Losses Heavy
The Germans encountered stubborn
resistance on the Bainsizza Plateau
and heaps of enemy dead mark the
lines Of their advance. Around Globe
Ridge d borsaglieri brigade, outnum'
bered five 20 one, held back the enemy
while the main line had an opportu-
nifty 70 get their retreat in motion.
In one of the mountain passes a
small village commanding the pass was
taken and retaken eight times during
desperate artillery, infantry and hand
to-hand fighting.
Gorilla was shelled heavily and re-
duced 10 a mass of debris. To the wes'
Of Gorilla the town OF Commons also
was shelled heavily. The great Ger
man guns opened enormous craters
and literally tore the town TO pieces.
Added to the frightful din and heavy
shell FIRE on front and flank was thf
continuous explosion OF powder sup
plies as the Italians slowly fell back
screened by a rear guard Of the per
saglieri brigade, who. threw up hasty
breastworks and contested every foo'
OF the way.
This permitted much OF The heavy
artillery and munition supplies TO be
withdrawn. Some Of the gunners hastlly
improvised derricks out of ropes and
hoisted and dragged the guns by hand
The heaviest pressure began to be
felt on the Carso front Friday. Inc
Austrians then increased their bonn
bardment and supplemented it with
huge volumes of poison gas ana tear
shells The humid air and ilgnt wind
permitted great waves OF the deadly
gases 70 creep low toward the ltahan
lines, the rear guards protecting them-
selves with masks and by maing III
caverns.
Resisted to Last Man
The safe retirement to the Iaella-
mento was due to the unexampled hero
ism Of large bodies Of Italians OF such
spirit as the Alpini on Monte Nero,
who refused to surrender, and the regi-
ments of bersaglieri at Monte Mag
giore, which persisted 20 the last man
rather than yield ground. II was be.
cause of such resistance in the lace OF
overwhelming forces Of enemy artillery
and infantry that the civil population
Was able TO retire.
Amid the onslaught of overwhelming
masses the Italians fell back slowly.
The correspondent, who was fortunate
enough to obtain a place in British
Red Cross automobile after remaining
at the front until Saturday, was able TO
observe the enormous movement west
ward. All the roads were packed with
dense traffic, with four or five lines
abreast of teams, automobile trucks
pack mules, artillery wagons and OK
carts. The soldiers marched or rode
singly, in groups, in regiments, IN
brigades or in divisions. II was such q
time as the world has seldom witnessed
Even fields and by-roads were utilized
for the colossal migration.
An Indescribable Scene
Many heart-rending scenes were wit
messed along the route, as the torren-
tial rain and the vast zone of mud in
creased the misery of the moving null
titude. Food was scarce, and many
went without for days, while sleep was
impossible as the throng trudged west
ward. The military hospitals were
evacuated, together with all other es.
adjustments, and pale and wounded
patients were obliged to join in the
rear guard march or fall into the hshds
of the enemy. The roadwayass Tefe
strewn with dead horses. Traffic moved
by night and day, often blocked fpt
long intervals by the breaking down 81
some enormous artillery truck,
But above all stands out the saliept
fact that the Italian army is ION its
feet, the htoken detaehments are re-
forming, and the whole array is swing
ing into another line before the invad-
ing enemy.
The immensely Of the conyulsior
through which the Italian army is pass
ing makes individual impressions count
for little. Yet. as an eyewitness al
the extreme front up to the day Of re-
tirement and then as a participant IL
the retreat to the new position west.
ward, the correspondents experience il
typical of those hundreds Of persons
that the army removed from the danger
zone.
With General Cadorna
II can be stated that we are located
with General Cadorna and the Genera
staff. His sturdy figure was often seer
as ne went TO and from the front where
the Duke of Aosta, commander OF the
third army, and General Capello, com
mander of the second army, were In
personal charge Of the wall Of steeI
that the Italians had erected inside o.
Austrian territory.
Near by at that time was the oficia
station where cur dispatches were rig
idly scrutinized. The whole city was
given up to the supreme military ad,
ministrstion, with the streets crowded
with oil ranks Of soldiery.
This gives a glimpse of the scene
which changed with such suddenness
when the crisis came last Friday night
From that hour the correspondent tried
10 make frequent notes, from which
the entries should give the main Sc.
quence Of events.
At noon Friday there was success
sion OF air raids. The alarm was
sounded by triple gongs. followed By
sirens and bells. The streets were