The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1917-11-01
italian Line is Holding

Washington, Oct 29.-Word from
Rome today that the Italian line was
holding against the terrific assault OF
the Austro-Ge forces, was receiv-
ed by official Washington with eager
interest and frank relief. Military au-
thorities here have not disguised their
keen anxiety as press reports showed
the Italians wavering backward un.
der crushing blows of the enemy.
Satisfaction was found also tonight
in the announcement from London
that steps already had been taken by
the French and British to support the
Italian front There was no indication
of what operations that announce ment
might foreshadow.
Accepting German claims at face
value, many officers here believe Gen
eral Cadorna will be able to check the
drive if the morale of his army is not
shattered. Announcement from Rome
that all elements of the Italian forces
were obeying orders of the general
staff, was viewed as setting at rest
for the time at least, the gravest fears
for the final outcome of the struggle
The announcement was taken to
mean that General Cadorna had sue
ceeded% in uniting the forces scattered
by the first rush of the Austro- Ger.
mans and was falling back steadily be
mind well organized defense to the
line selected for a stand. 80 49,. .
+ Italy at Critical Stage
In his weekly summary today, Sec.
rotary Baker said Italy was passing
through critical moment The state.
ment was prepared before the full ex.
tent OF the attack had developed but
it indicated the opinion in military
circles here that General Cadorna
might find it necessary to surrender
much of the ground won recently by
his forces when only Austrians faced
them.
Belief prevails here that the under.
lying motive of the German high com.
mand, which is directing the attack
and which furnished men. and guns
for the drive, is purely political Army
officers say it was launched with Law.
ish stage effects; with the Austrian
emperor announced as in supreme
command and the German General
Won Machensen as the guiding genius
of the movement. Won Mackensen has
swept back the Russian lines, over-run
Serbia and all but crushed the Ruman
ian forces in similar drives. He is re-
garded as the striking head of the Ger
man war machine, the man of the hou,
when a headlong assault is to be de
livered. W.
With such an association of digni
taries leading the heralded onslaught
some observers assert that anything
short Of the humiliation of the Ita1
ian army, must be regarded as mega
d tive German victory, if not a defeat.
Reverse Strengthens People
Reports from Rome, that political
party lines are vanishing in the great
emergency support the belief that nc
political upheaval is to be expected
On the contrary, in the view of some
diplomats, the assault probably will
serve to steel the Italian people to co
operative effort against the enemy
such as they have only dreamed cl
heretofore
Behind the position into which the
Italians now have been forced, lies the
old defense line established many
years ago by Italian soldiers, the line
of sc. 1t was selected because of nat
ural advantages, and along the line
new rail and wagon roads. distributing
machinery for the maintenance of :
great army, are said to have been pro
vided in anticipation of a backward
movement r. 5-,