Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1917-11-16
In lilly Regions Italians Give Ground With View
 to Strengthening Line.
NO TRUSTWORTHY
 NEWS FROM RUSSIA
Reports Vary from Control of Sitn. alton by kcrenski to Reign of Confusion and Terror
 i'm Cities.
Associated Press SummarvO

With the Russian situation still oh. scure by reason of the fact that no direct advices are being received from Petrograd or Moscow, the Italian situ- ation remains of transcendent inter- ests in the news of the world war.
 Everywhere along the battle front rom Lake Gorda, eastward and thence southward along the Piave river to the Adriatic sea, the Italians are hold ing the enemy in check, except in the hilly region in the vicinity of the As- iago plateau, where additional gains have been made by the invaders. The new advances by the Teutonic allies. as observed on the war map, do not indicate that points of extremly great strategic value have been won, but rather that the Italians on various sec tions have given ground before su. perior numbers and the same time have strengthened out and lessened the length of their front.
 Diaz ShOrtens Line.
 In the hills, north of the Venetian plains, General Diaz, the new com mander-in-chief of the Italians, has withdrawn his advance posts south of Monte Tomtiazo. On the Asiago plateau, and thence eastward to where the battle front meets the upper reaehs es the Piave river, the German and Austro- Hungarian forces are addinx to their attacks, doubtless hoping to drive thru the highland country to the plains of Venetia before the expectx ed arrival of British and French re- Inducements becomes fact.
 Prevent L0wland Invasion.
 Notwithstanding the jarduous re- treat from the Isonzo westward the Italians evidently have been able to re- inforce their northern line sufficiently to give battle to the enemy in such strength as to prevent precipitated invasion of the lowlands. where un- doubtedly it is the ambition of tho enemy to turn the Hanks of the de- lenders, and force a withdrawal 0f their line still farther westward. Along the Piave. from the region of Feltre to the Adriatic, the invaders, at ,nu- merous points have endeay0red to make new crossings of the river, but everywhere they have been thwarte& Those already on the west bank of the river are being hard held to their original position the artillery and rifle fire of the Italians keeping them in check.
 Vigorous She'll Fire.
 Near Zens0. the positions of thel. enemy gradually are being encroached upon, while near the mouth of the riv- CT at Griscolera the invaders in the swampy lowlands constantly are un- der vigorous shell and rifle fire.
 Russian News Doubtful.
 Varied reports are still cnming thru concerning the situation in Russia, but out of the maze it has been impossible to disentangle one statement that may be considered trustworthy. One. report has Petrograd -in flames. and another has 2,000 persons killed in the { streets of Moscow, during the fight ing between the Kerenskv and Bolshe- vski factions. Still another is to the effect that a. collation. government has been formed in Moscow with mem- bers of the Bolshevski holding port-s folios in it. Other unconfirmed reports are to the effect that anarchy reigns in Kieve and other Russian cities, and that excesses against the Jews are be- ing committed. <
 Clemenceau to Form Cabinet.
 Comparative quiet prevails along the western front in France an6 Bel- gium.
 Georgess Clemenceau, one of Fran- ce's most eminent nublic men and . former premier, will form new French ministry