The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-11-08
french and British Troops
Speeding to Romans Aid.
Invasion Temporarily Checked
at the Livenza River.
BRITISH CAPTURE 400 HUNS
German Line, Belgian Coast to
Lille, Now Threatened.
U-BOatS' Harvest Smallest
Since Sea Campaign Began.

Across the Venetian plains the Ital-
ians continue to retire to new de-
fense line where a stand probably Will
be made to stop an Austro- German
advance upon Venice. The morale of
the Italian armies is improving and
British and French troops are speed
ing to northern Italy to the aid OF
General CadOrna's harassed soldiers
who have now given UP more imam
2,1O0 square miles of italian territory
The invaders, Berlin announces,
have reached the LivenZa river be
tween the Tagliamento and the PiaVe.
General CadOrna has indicated that
the Italians might stand on the Liven-
"a line but it is not improbable that
the Piave will form the main part OF
the position from which the allied
troops will make a supreme effort to
check and drive back the Austro-Ger-
MANS Apparently the Teuton units
reaching the LivenZa were not in
great force as Berlin makes no claim
that the river has been crossed.
Cheek Rush of Teutons
In retiring from the Tagliamento
line the Italians were not as hurried
as in the retreat from the Isonzo and
lost few prisoners and guns. The
Italian rear guards gave the invad-
ing vanguards much trouble, appa-
rently more so than in the retirement
to the Tagliamento. Official COM
munications and news dispatches
throw light on the progress of the
Italian retreat from the Dolomite and
Carnic Alps nor is there any indica-
tions where this retirement will malt.
While the Tagliamento line became
untenable thru the river falling to
normal stage, the streams behind
General Cadorna are larger and less
susceptible to sudden changes. The
Italians also have the advantage of
"a mil crfa
from important ports and manufac-
turing cc..ters- The Austro-Ger-
mans on the other hand are getting
further away from their bases and
their lines of supply and communica-
ton must be built'up on the ruins left
behind by the Italians
In the capture of the important
position of Passchendaele. northeast
Of Ypres on Tuesday, the British took
four hundred prisoners. Crown Prince
Rupprecht of Bavaria did not attempt
counter attacks yesterday, giving the
Canadians time to strengthen the new
position, probably the most valuable
yet taken in the Flanders advance.
From Passchendaele the British guns
can reach many important points and
the British now threaten the whole
German line from the coast to Lille.
Tense Crisis in Petrograd.
The situation is tense in Petrograd,
with the .Bolsheviki element threaten
ing the security of the provisional
government. The revolutionists have
Occupied several important govern
mental buildings. Latest reports in
dictate that there has been no serious
EiSting.
loyal troops including the Cossa cks
have rallied to the support of Pre-
nlier Kerensky, who has decreed that
the workmen's and soldiers military
committee is an illegal organization,
but has declined to declare the Boil
sheviki outlaws. The preliminary
parliament has voted to work with
the government but has suspended
its sittings, the Bolsheviki having
seized the building in which it met.
U-Boats Sink Twelve Ships.
German submarines last week had
the poorest harvest in British ship
ping Of any week since the intensified
campaign began last February. Only
twelve vessels, eight OF more than
1 800 tons, and four of the less cate
CORY were sunk by the Germans. The
lowest previous week for vessels of
the larger size was the week ending
September 16, when eight were lost.
bat in that week the total in the
sndaller size reached twenty. In total
NUMBERS lost the lowest previous week
WIS that ending September so, when
thirteen went down. In the past four
weeks seventy-three British merchant
men have been sunk by submarines
OF mines, while in the last two weeks
OF April and the first two weeks of
May, 175 were lost.