The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-11-02

1WO
tans Il was stated positively that the
tAard army had successfully extricated
1enslf fron the Isonso front and had
I rskrsated In good order TO the Taslia-
H1nto line This army ts commanded
~ the duke of AostA and thus has
eaked itself from the Teutcnic purpose
Ut cutting II or from General Cador-
nat main line.
O6icial army ard diplomatic circles
are tonight awaiting word CT the be-
ginning Of possibly one Of the most
aecieive battles OF the war and there
- Z general belief that the tide that
had set so strongly against Italy a
week ago has Just about spent itself.
Typical Snewetorm May Save TSseni.
One typical Alpine snowstor'n may
turn Italy's plight into a defeat OF
the Anstro~German drive, In the iigh.
Of cfsiciai dispatches that were received
In this city today.
Italian cavalry has come furiously
- the aid of the retrea;ing armies and.
according to the messages received at
thu Italian embassy. are driving in the
greatest cavalry inaneuverx since the
battle OF Chartered They are reported
MS holding hack the enemy and harsss-
Ing them that their advance has
teen checked. If not halted entirely.
Large detachments are still IN the
mountains. They have been surround
ec. 1t is reported. but have sent out
their carrier pigeon announcing that
they are in safe position. able to move
practically as they wish and can hold
out for twelve days or two weeks, II
the worst comes TO the worst
They are waiting for the heavy snow
storms that sweep these regions" one
allied military man explained. The
Germans, under even one of these ter
rif1c storms would he cut of from their
communication and would be IN a
more desperate plight than Italy's
armies seemed to be three days ago.
The declarations from Berlin that
Italy has lost $50. 900 men and 1900
guns. seems to be greatly exaggerated
In view of reports received today. Just
the proportion OF the losses Is not
known, but II they had been so over
whelming as the Teutous claim the
drive would not have lessened SO soon,
Invaders May seea Re snowbcund.
Reports indicate that the Italian
armies have mostly reached the plains
and thsi. Germanys troops are stiil
coming over the mountain passes. This
part of Italy becomes snowbound gem
orally around this time of the year and
In some of the passes the snow remains
fifteen and twenty feet deep until as
late as June.
The entente are rushing assistance 10
the Italians by the most direct roads,
IL was explained, and the Italian forces
are now reforming for L decisive bat
tie. Some allied military Observers
predict that the German armv will
never make the complete crossing OF
the Tagiiamento. Certainly II is point
G<f sxsSf Ar a.
ing before the heavy guns of the Brit
Ssh and French reach the retreating
forces. the Germans will be effectually
blocked In their rush to the south.
German Pursuit. SIaekeninK.
experimenting the dispatches 10 the
italian embassy. a eahlegram was re-
teIvrd by Secretary Lansing. dated
yesterday. saying that the pursuit Of
the Germans WAS slackening up. They
also described the political situation
Of italy as one OF unity IN the face of
extreme danger. as pointed out in these
dispatches yesterday.
No attempt is made TO minimize the
gravity OF the situation At the Italian
embassy. 1t was admitted that 4 would
take some time to bring up the heavy
artillery because every bridge over
which the xssS- es4s. transported
must be almost rebuilt or reinforced
70 sustain the great weight The sue
cess Of the German Ranking movement
around the Italians left through tho
Paocken pass. 10 stIil causing great
concern. This would force the Italians
10 retire still further to the Pave
river. twenty miles back OF the Taglia-
mente.
Ccrsis Encouraginx Message.
General Corsi in messages received
here gives much eneoura cement In
pointing out that the Germans have
failed In three things they eontem-
plated.
l. They have failed TO disrupt italy
politically.
.. They have failed to drive the peo-
pie into clan3or for early peace
J. They have failed in the mil
ttAry sense because on the hrst two
tho latter depended III, large measure
He says the arntss have extr!eated
themselves from the trap.