New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-02
Big Force Trapped
When the Austrians
Seize Tagliamento
Bridges
Hint Treachery
In Surrender
Third Army Reaches
New Position With
Ranks Virtually
Unbroken

LONDON. Nov. AT the cost o,
$4,000 more men and 500 more guns.
captured by the ustro-Germans after
being surrounded. the Italian armies
effected their retirement behind the
Taglsmento River line to-day. All the
bridgeheads on the stream are now
held by aackensens troops. who a;
nearly every point stand on the east
crn bank Of the river, facing the
strongest defensive system on the
northern Italian front.
Another day OF two doubtless will
tell whether Cadorna's troops. with the
aid OF French and British infantry and
artillery. will be able TO hold to their
new line and stsve of what for eight
days looked like a great disaster. So
far, while their losses have been i'm
mense, aggregsting 10000 in prison
ers alone and 800 in guns, they have
escaped complete defeat and retain suf-
ficient strength to give the enemy a
hard and long battle. The Third Army
particularly, according to the Italian
War Ofics, reached its new line with
it's strength almost unbroken a feat
which Rome halls as "a beautiful
example OF strength and unity"
Treaehery Suspected
Except for the loss Of certain large
units in whose ranks troachery is sus-
pected, Cadorna'S hasty retirement
from the lsonzo to the Tagiiamento.
under the omnipresent threat Of en-
ve!cpment from the north. where he
was outfianked when the retreat began.
must be regarded as remarkable feat.
especially if he is now able TO stand
fra behind the new line.
On the other hand. the Austro-Ger-
man operations have been carried out
with completeness and swiftness and
perhaps deserve the high praise given
TO them By the Berlin War Office.
which says successes have been gained
(which even in the present war rarely
have been attained Brusllors sweep
through Galicia gathered in quite as
many prisoners ana far more territory
but was not accomplished in the same
short space OF time.
Cadona had almost completed MS
retreat 10 the Tagliamento lire whch
Mackensen dealt the blow which pu'
out of action $4,000 more Italian sol
diers. North Of Udine and the Udine-
Codroipo railway, which runs through
the middle Of the Friuli plain and aboI,
in the centre of the present battle line,
his troops had retired safely behind .he
river. The left flank and centre we're
thus safe.
Retreat Along Coast
The retreat Of the army on the cx-
treme right flank, along the Adriatic
coast, had been much slower than TIA
rest. however-in fact, two days ago 4
was hoped they might be able 10 hold
their positions on the lsonzo and le.
the rest Of the lire swing back. Ca
dorna saw, however, that the positions
had been rendered untenable and or
dered the retreat Of those units.
The retiring movement apparently
was started just too late. or the ad-
vance of Mackensen's army through
the Friuli Plain wss swifter than had
been expected. The whole army vas
suddenly trapped between the river
and the enemy, near Codroipo ana
Dignano. In last desperate effort to
save his men. Cadorna ordered violent
resistance by the rearguard in front
Of these positions
The attempt failed.
Overcoming all opposition, the enemy
units, composed of picked Prussian.
Bavarian and Wurtemberg infantry
men. stormed the bridgehead positions
at Codroipo and Dignano. penetrated
behind the retreating forces and cut
of $4,000 from their last chance OF
reaching the river lire.
To make things doubly certain, the
las, main crossings Of the Tagliamento
near Lstisana were taken. Flanked on
both sides and in the rear. the Italian
forces laid down their arms.
Expect Open Fighting
Military experts are pretty well
agreed that Cadorna has chosen the
"a his main line Of de-
fence against the enemy's invasion and
that he will make there his greatest
fight. n, however. If he should decide
70 fall back 20 the Piave for the big
battle, the plains between the two riv-
ers will witness the greatest cavalry
engagement Of the war. Since the
early days Of the war in Belgium and
France and the hrst great clashes be-
tween the Teutons and the Russians
warfare everywhere in Europe has set.
tied down to trench fighting.
Now, for the hrst time in three years.
there Is a possibility Of open warfare
hitherto undreamt Of on the Italian
plains, where the sabre may soon re-
place the rifle for all practical use.
The Italian cavalry have proved their
efficiency in the furious reargusrd en-