The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-11-07
ALLIES HELP ITALIANS.
ITALIANS HOLD UP AUSTItO-
GERMAN FORCES ALONG
TAGLIAMENTO.
France and Great Britain Supply
Brains, Man Power, Guns and AM
munitiOn-Turks Suffer Reverscs
Northwest OF Bagdad-Artillery
Busy i'm Flanders.

London, Nov. 3.-Great Britain and
France truly are rushing to the aid OF
Italy in her critical hour. Not alone
have men and guns been sent to the
hGttle front along the Tagliamento
River where the Italians are holding
the Teutonic allied invaders at bay,
Tut the war brains Of Great Britain
and France-comprisng the elements
ating against the foe in France and
Delgium-are on their way to Italy to
consult with the Italian leaders and
evolve plans to change the order Of
things as they now stand
Premier Lloyd George and Gen. Sir
william II. Robertson. chief Of the inn
perial staff at British army headquar-
ters. are the leaders OF the British
delegation. while Premier Painleve is
the chief representative Of the French
mission. No details of the plans OF
the joint mission have been announc-
ed, but it is evident the purpose is to
give Italy what she requires in the
way or material for an intensive con-
duct Of the war and also to assure
her OF great reinforcement in man
power. guns and ammunition.
Meanwhile General Cardinals forces
are holding the invaders along the
Tagliamento by means of their heavy
artillery and quick firers. On the left
wing the Italians have replied vigor-
ously to strong pressure by the Ger
mans and Austro- Hungarians and thus
far have held the attacking forces for
no gains. All along the front italian
aviators are soaring over the enemy
lines. dropping bombs and ammunica
depots and troop formations. What
for the moment would indicate q fur
ther menace to the Italians is an Of
begun by the enemy in the
Trentino region, in the zone of the
Here the enemy endeavored to-
break through the territory to the
west Of the northern shores OF Lake
Garda, but was repulsed after heavy
battle leaving prisoners in the hands
OF the Italians. Recently there have
been reports that the Austro- Swiss
border has been closed and that the
enemy forces in the Trentino region
were being reinforced. A swift drive
by the Austro- Germans through the
valleys and the mountain passes
southwark through Bresca would Sc
riously affect the entire Eastern Ital-
ian front and possibly result in a fur
ther important Withdrawal of the Ital-
ian line.
While the British and French forces
In Flanders are carrying out minor
operations they are being mainly con-
fined TO bombardments Of German
positions and small raids into enemy
territory. The French along the
Aile,te valley are keeping their out
posts in close contact with the Ger
mans who retreated last week AMI
also are violently bombing the newly
taken up positions. On several sec
tors to the east of this region. espe-
cially northwest of Rheims and north
of Chaume in the Verdun sector, the
Germans have essayed several violent
infantry attacks, but i'm each instance
met with defeat.
In Mesopotamia the British troops
operating against the Turks have driv-
en- sharp salient into the Ottoman
line, northwest Of Bagdad, having
Forced the enemy to withdraw along
the Tigris about 20 miles from Due to
the town of Tekrit. The new drive
places the apex Of the British line an
proximately 100 miles up the Tigr,s
from Bagdad.