The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-11-14
Line Of PAVE Is
BEING SOHOLY HELLO
French and British Armies In Re-
serve Bcfeind Italian Lanes Great
Aid In Rnl1ying Italy.

Washington. Nov is-The line OF
italian troops, English and French
armies are In reserve behind. Italian
morale has been strengthened. the
country has been united and the line
shortened for tremendously sitter
defense. In reality the italian armies
are far from being defeated.
That was the encouraging aspect Of
the italian situation presented tonisht
from French sources. 1t represents
the opinion of the French war office
1t was transmitted here and. through
the courtesy Of Ambassador Jusser-
and. made public by the committee
on public information.
The text Of the document follows:
The Germans have greatly exag-
gerated the importance OF the Italian
defeat.
lin reality the Italian armies are
FAR from beng defeated.
The second army has seriously SUI
Tered. On the 24th Of October v!o-
lent 1ensIye by the Germans be.
tween rrez.o ard Tolmino took the
positions of the i-olovist and gained
the high valleys OF the Judrio and
Natisenc. On the 25th and 26th, after
the foss OF Matajur and Mont Magior
the sec ond army fell back first to the
Taglianento and then to the Piave.
This ia ling back was executed under
tho PR lection of rearguards which
comported themselves admirably, and
the retreat took pls sc in good order.
I1avo Solidlv Held.
'Ths lire. OF the q, r lave is actually
soiidly held. The Italian general staff
II awaitiny the enemy forces.
These operations, having shorten
Cd the front, allow of better means
Of resist ance.
''The English ami French armies
are fl reserve behind
THE morale Of the army has been
strengthened and Is becoming excel
lent.
1.-THE country, at first strongly
shaken. is becoming more settled as
the political parties are getting more
united"
The statement lie the most authori-
tative opinion yet received here as TO
just what the German offensive
against Italy means 90 the allied
cause. It had been feared openly
here that the rear OF France might
be msnased by a German drive
through fombardi and Piedmont.
The optimism OF the statement seems
60 set these fears at rest
The statement further intimates the
stss OF the AiiiEa achievements upon
which Italy csn depend. French and
British ''armies'' in the rear of the
italian line mean indeed q formidable
defense opposed to the Germans.
Internal Conditions Better.
French testimony as to the internal
conditions In italy liz also welcomed
here AZ extremely favorable. Open
doubts have been expressed as TO the
results of rtaly's iaxity in permitting.
peace and socialist propaganda to be
preached even in the trenches of the
Tolmino.
II has been seriously doubted here
that the Italians would be able 10
muster a united political fs,nt, despite
the favora reports coming from
Italian sources, The French testimony
In favor Of this development is ac-
cepted as conclusive.
That the Italian line on the Pfave
will hold. means that Venice Will be-
sawed. II will also mean that this Ger
man advance from the Ison7o to the
Pave will not largely increase Ger
man naval opportunity In the Adria-
tic. Had Venice fallen or been aoan-
doned by the allies the naval oppor-
tunity of Germany would have been
don hIed