The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1917-11-03
ITALIAN ARMY
MAKES STAND
kepu!se TeutOn Patrols on th}
TagIiamentO River.
GREAT BATTLE EXPECTED
The Rout is Ended and Stubbor!
Fighting Marked Every Step of the
Retreat.

Fighting Marked Every Step of the
Retreat.
Rome, Nov. 3.-Austro-German pa
trolls have advanced TO the banks o.
the Tagliamento river, along whicL
the Italians are making a stand.
The war office announces that these
patrols were repulsed.
There has been reciprocal artillery
firing over the Tag,i7mento river
Enemy patrols, which had advanced
to the bank of the river, were repulsed
by our machine gun fire"
Italian and allied troops are pre-.
pairing for a counter offensive. A
great battle based on the line of the
Tagliamento river is forecast.
Not only is the main body of the
italian army intact, after having
dealt several blows to the enemy, but
It is now apparent that the Ttalians
have thwarted the AustrO-German
plan of encompassing the third army
on the Carso, thereby cut-in% off the
flower of the forces in this region
rendering the Venetian plains de-
fenseless and encouraging the hope of
the enemy for decisive victory with
far-reaching political results.
The safe retirement to the Taglia-
mento was due to the unexampled
heroism of large bodies of Italians of
such spirit as the Alpini on Monte
Nero, who refused to surrender, and
the regiments Of Bersa gl:eri at Mcnt
Maggiore, which persisted to the last
man rather than yield ground. 1t was
because of such resistance in the face
Of overwhelming forces of enemy ar
tillery and infantry that the civil popu-
lation was able to retire. 1t was ow-
ing to the valor of Italian aviators,
combating the Austro-German army
of the air that fleeing women. Children
and old men who crowded the roads,
were not struck down by bursting
bombs.
The spirit of the army now con-
fronting the enemy is excellent. The
troops are fired with the determina-
ton to expel the invaders from Italian
soil.
Amid the onslaught of overwhelm-
ing masses the italians fell back slow
ly. The cores pondent, who was for
tunate enough to obtain a place in
British Red Cross automobile after
remaining at the front until Saturday,
was able to observe the enormous
movement westward. All the roads
were packed with dense traffic, with
four or five lines abreast of teams. au-
tomobile trucks pack mules, artillery
wagons and OK carts. The soldiers
marched or rode singly, in groups, in
regiments, in brigades or in divisions.
It was such time as the world has
seldom witnessed. Every field and
by-road were utilized for the colossal
migration. It is not surprising that
some congestion occurred amid such
an exodus, and the only wonder Is
that the great army has peen abie TO
withdraw at all and establish itself
along the new line of defense.
Many heartrsnding scenes were wit
messed along the route, as the torren-
tial rain and the vast zone of mud
increased the misery of the moving
multitude Food was scarce and many
went withut for days, while sleep was
impossible as the throng truged 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
hands of the enemy. The roadways
we're strewn with dead horses. Traffic
moved by night and day. often block
ed for long intervals by the breaking
Town Of some enormous truck.
But above all stands out the salient
TACT that the italian army is on its
FEET, the broken detachments are re-
forming and the whole array is swing
ing into another line before the invad-
ing enemy.