The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-11-13
Forces on Trentino Stand Firm
But Danger Of Attack From
Rear Persists
LINE ON PAVE SEEMS
MERELY TEMPORARY
Morale of Diaz' Men Described
az Excellent Rear Guards
Fighting With superhuman
tieroism

London. Nov. l2.-Ttaly's armies in
and just below the Trentino have stood
fiji m during the last fortyeight hours
against violent Teuton attacks aimed
at breaking through to take the 1tal-
laaI Piave line in the rear. General
Diaz's center and left wing, lined up
OIL the west bank Of the Piave. also re-
NAMED stationary and intact,
But the Italian left wing. retreatins
westward In the northern Piave valley,
Is not yet out of danger. Part of it
900 men---was trapped and captur-.
ed ny the Teutons who had got behind
them near Longarone. to the north
east of Belluno, taken yesterday. The
remainder of this army is struggling
desperately TO escape enforcement.
Military necessity demands that it shift
for itself. for Diaz is graphing with a
far greater menace to his main forces
The Teuton right wing which took
Belluno yesterday. now stands before
Feltre fifteen miles to the southwest,
Berlin announced today.
This advance, it is frankly concef-
ed here, means another step in the
turning of the italian Piave line, and.
which is more important, new step
In the Teatcn strategic scheme To bring
a bout an Italian Sedan. For that thu
Austro-German staff Is reientlessly
pursuing this scheme, upon which 1t
has staked all, is evident from every
new bulletin issued by the Berlin war
office.
Though the news from Rome, OH.
cial and unofficial, was reassuring to-
day as regards the present Eafety OF
Diaz's main forces, 1t is recognized by
every military critic here that the
chances of n successful stand on the
Piave are fading fast and that safety
seems to dictate the immediate ahan-
ionment of all Of Veneitta. with Venice,
and a further retirement as far as the
kidge. whose middle course is some
sixty miles from that of the Piave.
Only when that river is reached will
the Italians be sa fe in their rear.
~, The main question is now admittedly
this: ''wi1l Diaz be able to extricate
the bulk of his forces from the Teuton
nutcracker and get them safely to tho
Adige? Today's news from Rome,
showing the Italian Trentino forces
fully able to cope with the Teutons on
that front. strongly indicate an at
firmative answer.
front. the Rome war office reports.
failed completely" Not only did the
Italians present an impentrable front
TO the Austro- German attacks, but they
launched counter thrusts and even
took prisoners.
+ "On the remainder OF the mountain
Gus front" General Diaz's bulletin add
ed during contact engagements with
the enemy vanguards. our advanced
troops resisted everywhere"
Upon the resistance of these Ttaf-
ian armies in the north now rests the
fate OF Italy For a Teuton break
through here would indeed mean tra
italian Sedan which Is the Teufon aim.
Far behind the Piave river. due west
~ it's middle course. four vital
strategic railway sectors form Il sriant
fork. It's base Is the Casteifranco-
Eicenza sector of the Udiue.Verona
railway the 'Tife line of the Italian
armies In Venctta, because It is their
main line OF retreat as well as OF com
munication. The prongs of this fork.
are. from east to west The lines:
From Feltre To Castelfranco, twenty
+ five miles.
! From Asiago to Citadelia, twenty
miles.
/ From Schto to- yicenza, fifteen miles.
! German armies now are at the TON Of
the two first "orongs," and another IL
not far 10 the north of the third The
logical Teuton plan Is 70 dash dow,
either one. or all. of these lines to c'at
4 the italian life line, That done, thew
would proceed to padua and cut nsf
the last Italian avenue OF escape. the
NerSicA-P adua -Nantra rail
4 Todavs Berlin d'spateh about th~
cutting off nj 10 600 Italians moor
Lop garone threw cold water unoa
hores revived ~ nreyious unofficial
disnatches about the safety of tho
Italian left wing
The morals OF the italian armies is
described in all dfsnatc as excelient
Rear guards are fiehtIr~ with almost
srperhnran heroisn The arrival of
Anglo French retnforcements ari
Eurla nd's promise that not q stone viii
be left unturred to save Italv. iynhred
ithH Italian armies and the peonle be-
hind the lines With renewed hone and
determination.
A Berlin dispatch saws the kaiser
was at the italian front Sunday after
noon.