New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-02
Allied Troops Reach
Italian Front; Find
Army Morale Good

vices from Rome to-day state that
French and British troops have arrived
at the Italian front, and that they have
been extended an enthusiastic welcome
by the Italian press. The dispatches
state that the Allied forces have found
the Italian army stronger, both ma
terially and morally. than had been ex-
pected by them, considering the re-
verses sustained in the mountain sec
tors.
The State Department received a
cablegram from Ambassador Page, at
Rome, to-day saying the Italian army
is retiring in good order. that the enemy
pressure has lessened and that all po-
iiticsl parties are giving the govern
ment their support. These sdvices co,
jncide with those received in Official
Italian quarters.
CAPTAIN Laberto Vanneutelli, naval
attache of the Italian Embassy. ex-
PRESSED the conviction to-day that the
rext ten DAYS will witness intensive
movements on the plains forming the
battle area of the present ltalo-Austri,
an front and that the end of this period
will disclose a greatly CHARMED mill
tsry situation.
CAPTAIN Vsnneuteili, who is a strate-
gist of distinction in the Italian navy
and who is familiar with the terrain OF
the existing front, remarked slgnin-
cantly that at is easy to come down 10
the plains; it is not so easy TO get DaeA
again. indicating that the Austro-
German army may soon mo itseii III
difficult situation.
The retiring third italian army, ne
said. il an offensive army as well, mas
r,uch as il menaces the left flank OF
the enemy and is supporting tne re-
treating second army. He said that on
the enemy side of the front there are
very few roads. the mountain passes
sre narrow and between the capacity OF
the enemy's and our own lines OF com
munication there is a remarkable uii
ferencsv The Italians, besides excel
iortIy constructed roads, have the oene-
1T Of railway transportation and per
fected system of canals. ,,:
In addition, Captain Nanneuteih
stated. the Italian army Will receive
naval support. In the canals heASy
Ems have been placed on floats, aho
fbese batteries, of tremendous power
will have a sweep Of the Austro-UeriiAh
positions. .Ao co.st will
also be under the protecting Sorei %
the new, strange monitors wnlSh
operated most effectively WIN 'ne
army during the offensive from My "
July and which are really "o"''Ne
fortresses. bv land
"a frorr Venice TO Grade by sea the
italians enjoy perfect lines OF com
,rnnication. The approach Of winter
viii NOT interfere with them, but WIN
ter will multiply the embarrassments
~ the enemy, especially as concerns
~. communications. Captain Iannu,,
,ei,i said he would not be surprised u
Tho Austrians attempted some over
.ion Al sea al the present stage OF the
onsrations. but he did not believe Aus
- would risk her bsttleships.
CAPTAIN Vannutell characterized tne
RsrIn War Office statement that Nv,
o00 italian soldiers had been captured
"a exaggerated. The figures lncIuoed'
he asserted, granting that they repre-
sented the real number OF persons re-
moved by the enemy, the CIVILIAN poPu-
iation Of the occupied positlons, IN
Guiding old men, women ano enlioreu'
He was sceptical, also, about the num-
her of Austro- German troops reported
~ bs generating against Italy. assert
;n0 that the accurate number must De
1esa than 1000, 900, because Q greater
number could not operate on thaI
front WI,
djspatch from Rome gives the views
Of General Corsi, military critic OF the
@Roma Tribuna," on the military STU
alton. The dispatch follows:
general Cadorn% writes that the
huIIetin OF last Wednesday, night de-
Itneat.. the situation. The enemy in
,aunch;ng his offensive must have de-
cided on three objectives-one OF tao
tics. ore Of strategy, and one Oh pol
icv--deriying his success from the
strategical objective. He took advan-
tsge OF the Tolmino door TO break
through our lines on the middle lower
Jsonzo and with maximum eHpengi
tire OF effort succeeded in this plan. lie
hoped 70 achieve also a political oo)ec-
~ IN the dissolution of the Italian
army and the weakening of the nation
al resistance. This strstegicsl-politieal
offensive induced the enemy 20 employ
all the strength he could assemble;
otherwise the enormous Austro- Ger
,nan-Turkish-B Bulgarian effort could not
be explained.
AThe enemy. however, has nos
achieved the result he expected, since
the Withdrawal OF the Italian army was
SucceSsfEl. The critic admits thst IL ~
snguishing 20 be obliged to abandon
the advantages acquired during two
years of lighting. but, he adds. u must
be remembered that this is TO be er-
peeted In modern warfare. In modern
warfare IL is not ground that deter
mines the issue, but rather the spirit
and the equipment Of the army.
Cavalry In Action
with the entrance into action OF the
Italian cavalry. the command an.
nounces successful msnouyrss carried
out by the horse. which. for the frst
time, appears TO be playing an i'm
portant role In the war since the battle
of Charieroi.
Prompt. resolu,s decision has been
shown by the nation, afflicted with sor-
row, but fra and determined 70 fight
until final victory shall have been OBJ
tanned.
The Austro-Gsrnsn offensive has
entered upon a new phase. In which the
fighting IL being conducted in the
open. and IN this phase. according 10
General Corsi, the measure 81 the enc
my will be taken by the Entente pow
err, and decisive battle on the plains
- probable. The critic implies tina,
the Entente powers will come 70 the
asfistance of Italy and participate In