The Washington herald., 1917-11-05

George, the British premier, ar
rived in Paris last evening. He
viii accompany Prof. Paul Pain
leve, the French premier, to Rome,
leaving today.
AMASTER STROKE.
Italian Headquarters, Nov. A.
The Duke of Aossa, by defeating
the German scheme of enveloping
the Third army and capturing the
whole organization, has averted a
disaster which would have been
without a parallel in Italian military
annals.
The retirement from Gorizia and
rhe Carso line to the new line
along the Tssliamenfo River moved
with a frontage Of fifteen miles
~ Y :
and involved a rearward march Of
hirty-6ve mikes to a new position,
hrst through the mountain region
and then across the plain.
Armies Prepare for BATTLE.
The Italians today oppose to the
enemy a new and reinvigorated front,
as is shown by Gen. Cadorna's bull
letin reporting that enemy patrols
which had reached the bank Of the
Tagliamento River. had been driven
back by fusillades of machine guns.
The Italian cavalry continued to dis
tinguish itself in rear guard actions
as the bulk of the enemy forces tried
to move forward along the Taglia-
ntento.
That the Austro-Germans will at
tempt to cross the Tagliamento River
Is not doubted. but this will be an
operation OF extreme difficulty owing
to the prevailing flood in the stream
at this season. and to the. fact that
the bridges have been destroyed Even
II the Tagliamento were crossed there
Are second lines of natural and mill
ary defense to obstruct the further
progress OF the enemy.
Situation stin Grave.
The general situation presents many
reassuring features, but its continued
gravity is not to be underestimated
The enemy advance is being held
west Of the Tasliamento River. The
Italian cavalry is again demonstrat-
ing its value.
Reports coming in from all quarters
now make it clear that the enemy
united In the decision to try to de-
liver staggering blow at Italy and
thus der1nge the entire scope of the
entente orensives at other points.
Not only did Germany participate
with heavy forces massed against the
Italian Second arm. but the larger
part OF the huge concentration was
drawn from the Russian front under
circumstances which the Italians re-
gard as very mysterious.
The Italian cavalry has emuIated
the deeds of the famous Light
Brigade at Balaklava," said a British
office who has been following the
operations on the italian front in
speaking today OF the campaign now
In progress.
Chance at Last.
Ever since the opening of the war
fe italian cavaIrymen have been
ahng because the mountain war
re offered no opportunity for en-
loyment of their branch of the
BService. They were drafted into in
'antry and bomb-throwing contin-
gents and into the aerial service.
Now, however, they have had the
shance to prove that the cavalry is
hot as obsolete as cross bowmen,".
Is one writer put 1t. In fact, the
yuccessful retirement OF the valiant
Italian army was due very largely
10 the heroism of the mounted
iroops
The splendid maneuvering of the
avalry In great masses and their
reckless charges in the face of a
nream Of machine gun bullets are
regarded by military officers con-
ptutlns one of the most brilliant
.eatures OF the fighting on this
nont- Cnarses Of entire brigades
sere executed with perfect preci-
non and control. Many dificuIt
eats were performed.
Germans Lose Ground
Paris. Nov. 4.-Germany's superhu.
nan efforts to hold the positions at
he Chemindes-Dames have been en-
trely annulled by the French victory.
which has compelled a retreat of the
nenny along a fifteen-mile front.
The crown princes armies lost the
sreater part of the electives of their
elements and were forced to go
he rear to reconstitute their dimin-
shed ranks. The Germans left along
ne crest Of the Chemin-des-Dames |
mnered day and night from an en-
uaoing nre from the French guns en-
CONTINUED on PAGE TWO. !
s-.r- ---.s