The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-11-02


which required a steady falling back
until the entire army was in move
ment toward the established
positions further west During this
prodigious movement of the main
front and the rear guard which can
only be sketched in the broadcast out
lines, some sections sustained shocks
of exceptional intensity. The com
manding height of MONTENEGRO which
the Italians had occupied after deeds
of great valor was defended against
onSlaughts from three sides which
gradually developed to development.
Added to this was the suddenness
of the surprise blow from the north
which developed into a turning fire
before the southern armies and also
on their extreme flank, gradually ex-
tending to their rear Under such
circumstances il was humanity posi-
BILE that any army would be tried
sorely and it was to eXtriCate troops
from this situation that the retire
ment began all along the extended
advanced position occupied by the
Italian army within Austrian terri
tory.
This line stretched roughly from
Plezzo (Fitch) far in the north,
southeastward thru Gorilla to Mon
falcone on the Adriatic.
The second army occupied most of
the front above Gorilla, the third
army below Gorilla.
near
The retirement was accomplished
by Smelling operations of the rear
guard which poured deadly fire in
to the advancing columns and at the
same time destroyed powder depots,
arsenals and bridges with the double
purpose of giving time for the with
drawal of the Italian heavy guns and
of preventing military stores from
falling into the hands of the enemy.
The Germans encountered stubborn
resistance on the Bainsizza plateau
and heaps of enemy dead mark the
lines of their advance. Around GlObo
ridge BerSaglieri brigade, outnum-
bered five to one held back the enemy
while main line had an opportunity
to get its retreat in motion.
In one of the mountain passes a
small village commanding the pass
was taken and re-taken eight times
during desperate artillery, infantry
and hand-to-hand fighting.
Gorilla was shelled heavily and
what remained of what the correspon-
dent saw there just a week ago today
was further reduced to mass of
debris. One of the main bridges from
| Gorilla across the ISonzo was blown
up by the Italians and the enemy
movement thus was further impeded.
To the west of Gorilla the town of
! Commons also was shelled heavily. The
great German guns opened, enormous
craters and literally tore the town to
pieces.
AS depots and arsenals were blown
UP the whole sky was lighted with a
red glare, and dense masses of smoke
formed an enormous pail like the APP
proach of an equinoxial cyclone.
Added to the fearful din and heavy
shell fire on front and flank was the
continuous explosion of powder sup
plies as the Italians slowly fell back.
Not only is the main body of the
i
several blows to the enemy, but it is
now apparent that the Italians have
thrwarted the Austro- German plan of
! encompassing the third army on the
Carso, thereby cutting off the flower
of the forces in this region, rendering
the Venetian plains defenseless and
encouraging the hope of the enemy
for a decisive victory with far reach
ing political results.
Italians Show Bravery
The safe retirement to the Taglia-
mento was due to the unexampled
heroism of large bodies of Italians OF
such spirit as the Alpini Monte Nero
who refused to surrender, and the
regiments of Bersaglieri at Monte
Maggiore which persisted to the last
man rather than yield ground. II
was because of such resistance in the
/ face of overwhelming forces of enemy
artillery and infantry that the civil
/ population was able to retire. 1t was
owing to the valor of Italian aviators
combating the Austro- German army
( that fleeing women, children and ole
+ men who crowded the roads were MOI
struck down by bursting bombs
The spirit of the army now con
/ fronting the enemy is excellent. The
/ troops are fired with the determine
ton to expel the invaders from italian
soil
/ The Big Retreat.
Amid the onslaught of overwhelm-
ing masses the Italians fell back slow.
I ly. The correspondent who was for.
tunate enough to obtain a place in g
British Red Cross automobile after
remaining at the front until Saturday
was able to observe the enormou:
! movement westward All the road,
| were packed with dense traffic, with
four or five lines abreast of teams
automobile trucks, pack mules, artil
| lery wagons and OK carts. The sol
diers marched or rode, singly, il
groups, in regiments, in brigades OF
in divisions. 1t was such a spectacle
as the world has seldom witnessed
| Even fields and byroads were utilized
for the colossal migration. 1t is no
surprising that ssome congestion oc
CURED amid such an exodus, and the
only wonder is that the great army
has been able to withdraw at all, anC
establish itself along the new line o
defense.
Many heart-rending scenes wer,
witnessed along the route as the tor
rental rain and the vast zone of mut
increased the misery of the moving
multitude. Food was scarce and man,
went without four days while sleel
was impossible.
Hospitals Evacuated.
The military hospitals were evacu
ated together with all other estab
lishments and pale and wounded pa
tients were obliged to join in tn
rear guard march or fall into tn
hands of the enemy. The roadway
were streWn with dead horses. Traf
fic moved by night and day, oftel
blocked for long intervals by tn
breaking down of some enormou
artillery truck
Butzaboye all stands out the salien
fact that the italian army is on it