New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-29
Cadorna's Whole Line
Broken on Front
of 40 Miles
Teutons Advance
On Venetian Plain
Occupy Town Of Civi-
dale and Prepare to
Attack Udine

LONDON, Oct. 2s.-Tke italian re-
treat has almost developed into a ropt.
The Austro-G Germans have taken Co
rizia, have broken the whole Italian
line from Fitch TO the sea, and are
now moving westward on the Venetian
Plains. Berlin announces tonight that
100000 prisoners and ZOO guns have al
ready been counted.
The Italian second and third armies
are in hasty retreat westward. Macken-
sens great army, smashing forward on
Cadorna's left wing, has occupied the
town Of Cividale, ten miles beyond the
Isonzo and at the head of the Northern
Italian plains. The invaders are now
moving on Udine, nine miles to the
southwest and less than seventy miles
by railroad from Venice itself.
Cowardice Disclosed
Cowardice has been disclosed in the
ranks of the Italian Second Army. Ac-
cording to the Rome War Office, the
failure of certain units to resist the
enemy's advance allowed the Teutonic
forces to break through the Italian left
wing on the Julian front. The Italian
line is being withdrawn according 70
plans" the statement says, all stores
and depots being destroyed in the re-
treat
With the loss of Gorilla, the capture
Of which constituted the most impor-
tant victory in Cadorna's great drive
during the summer of 1916, the entire
Italian froat southwark to the Adriatic
has been turned and must be swung
westward in line with the retiring
front to the north.
II is highly improbable the Italians
will be able to hal. their withdrawal
and offer any adequate resistance until
they reach the line OF the Isgliamento
River, which cuts the plains soma
thirty-fve miles west and southwest
of the Isonzo and only forty miles
from Venice. This would leave more
than 1900 square miles of Italian ter
ritory in the hands of the enemy and
would threaten the entire region OF
northern Italy.
InternA nssension Figures
1t is probable that internal disor-
panization in Italy, quite as much az
the overwhelming strsngth Of the en-
omy, is accountable for the complete
collapse of the military machine along
the Isonzo. weeks Italy has been
in the throes 81 political and eco
ncmic crisis which has steadily eaten
its way into the army and sapped its
power as no one had realized. The
present retreat begins to assume an
aspect not dissimilar 10 that Of Tn.
Russian armies in the field since last
July.
While the Italian forces are declared
TO be opposed in the present operations
by an army Of four times their strength
equipped as the Italians have not been
for months, only a wavering morale
within Cadorna's army and lack OF
heavy artillery can account for the
swift Generalization that has followed
the enemys blows. Unless Italy re-
ceives powerful aid Immediately the
situation may go from bad 20 worse,
from defeat TO disaster.
Cadorna still has confidence in his
men, however, and hopes 10 bring them
out of danger. "The record OF many
memorable battles fought with success
by our brave soldiers during two and
half years of war" he tells tho coun-
try in his official report, sis sufficient
70 assure the commander in chief that
the arm to which the safety and honor
| Of the country are conhded will know
how to fulfill its duty"
Gorilla, about half way on the
Isonzo front, between Tolmino and the
sea, dominates the entire southern
front of the Italians. Situated among
hills Of great defensive value. It wa,
the strongest link in the chain Of Itsl
| ian Notifications on the front Of more
than forty miles, held for a year and
half on Austrian soil. IL was from
Gorilla as base that Cadorna steadily
developed his offensive for the Balm.
sizza Plateau TO the north and for
Trieste on the south. With its occu.
patton in August, 1915, the Italian,
took 10000 prisoners.
Artillery Paved Way
The German assault on the Italian
line was focused on a comparatively
small frontage, but supported by ar
enormous concentration of heavy ar.
tillery, after the German fashion in
augurated at the Dunajec, in 1915
when the great Russian retreat from
Galicia and the Carpathians was pre-
cipitated. Having ruptured Cadorna,
line, it was comparatively easy for thu
infantry 10 rush through and a start
widespread retirement. 1t is obvious
that the Italian positions on the Carss
Plateau, won after much sacrific!a
fighting. must be relinguished, and tha
Cadorna's mesnace to Trieste has dis
appeared. Italy will have nothin,
whatever to show for all her efforts II
the war. except for small gains her,
and there in the Trentino. and in addi
tion will probably lose a considerabl,
slice OF her richest territory.
! The chief lack of the Italians ha,
| been big guns to oppose 20 the Teu
| tonic concentration. There have beer
several batteries of British "heaTies'
cooperating with the Italian artillery
and lately have come reports OF Frcncl
guns being rushed TO the threatene,
! front. Evidently. however, they wer,
not IN sufficient numbers, and railva,