The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-11-17
Life LineH of Defense, How
ever. More Seriously Men.
aced by Fall of Cismon
KROBATIN'S FLANKING
MOVE is UNCHECKED
Now But Nineteen Miles From
Cittadella intrepid Alpini
Are Being Pushed Back.
Successful Elsewhere

London, Nov. ia ruse of war
old as war itself, but ever successful
has been played by the Italians on the
Teuton left wing at the mouth OF the
Piave.
There. In the marshy fatlands zig
Jagged by many bays and fagoons. just
ens. of Venice. Teuton vauguards have
been altering through" across the
river for several days. Emboldened
by comparatively weak resistance. they
advanced further and further, taking
a neat foothold in the triangle between
San Dona di Piave, Porto di Pave
Vecchia and the Piave's mouth. From
this triangle was to be launched the
no~thwestward thrust designed to out
flank the Italian main forces along the
west bank Of the river.
Suddenly, some rtr1Ie within the fast
twanty-four hours, the commander OF
the Italian engineer corps that had
been secretly busy as bees for two
weeks in this region. gave a signal.
Translated into good Yankee talk. 1t
meant. Letter go."
Down went the powerful djkes which
for many decades have held in check
the waters OF two rivers. the Piavs
land Sile All across the lowiying
plains swept the floods. impetuously,
irreeistably, like sea devouring the
coast on typhoon-spree. The rush
started at the very point where tho
Tentons had managed TO cross the
river. Grioslar. four miles from the
coast, and surged all over the trtangls.
whose sides are nearly fifteen miles
wide. The Teutons were swept Off
their feet. apd the area which they
had invaded has been turned into
lake
Ilepctitton of Belgian Ruse.
| II is repetition, on a small scale.
I OF the Belgian ruse on the User. Those
of the Teutons who could not get back
in time inevitably persisted.
Thus the Italians have. for the
present at least, safeguarded their
rrit M wing. But up in the mountains
where the Zoe is trying to cut TO their
rear in a far more meracing thanking
move, and where there are no food
gates tn be opened. things looked
grave
| The Teu.ons there have taken Cis-
mon. another gateway To the Plain.
This town les only eleven miles north
tof Bassant. and from that city TO Cit
I te della. th' intersection on the Italian
"hfe line" is only eight miles. More
over, the amy under General Kro-
balm which operates here, Is now ad-
vahcing through open space between
the mountains OF the Settle Cominuni
ana the big ridge TO it's east They
are not 'dashlng" southwark There
rs nothing of a break through" In
their advance. But they are moving
/ on nevertheless, slowly reIentlessly.
though Ii Intrepid Alpini are yield
Ing only Inch by Inch. In the noun
tatns To tho easl and west the Italians
are displaying a waior and tenacity that
mock the Yer. thought OF broken
morale. Along .he lower End middle
course OF the Piave they are holding
theI own, and their artillery Is an
swertng shell for shell across tho
stream But tn, krobatin army. every
military critic here agreed tonight.
must be stopped. and stopped at once.
or all the Italian tenactty and heroisn
on the other fronts will have beef, In
vain.
| And Yet Another Menace,
There is one other menace which
General ssiaz is relied upon to have
constantly In mind. 1t lies in the DOS
siniiity OF Teuton crossing at Nervesa.
near where the Tfeviso- Udine railway
crosses the Piave. Here the Piave n
narrowesr. and in the middle of the
stream lies long shoal that presents
an excellent 'stepping-stone" To the
zoe. The danger In the Teutons pres
ence on the eastern hank here lies In
i'he fact that II Rueiow's center pushes
across he would threaten to outfiank