The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-10-31
Italian Cavalry holds.

Italian Cavalry Holds.
The drive of the Germans and
Austro- Hungarian armies. begun n
week ago against the eastern and
northeastern fronts of the Austro-
Italian Nheater. continues unabated.
bat with the italian cavalry fighting
rear guard actions to cover the re-
treat of the Italians TO positions chosen
for u stand, ana the Tcutonic allies
also being impeded by the flooded
conditions OF the Taglialnento river.
The invaders are pressing the Ital-
ians westward from the lson2o front
and invading Italian territory from the
north through passes In the Carnio
Alps.
Position Is Precarious.
The invasion of the province of Ve-
netia from the east with Udine the
apex of the drive. already Is about 20
miles, but as yet no definite informa-
ton is ut hand from which tits pos
sible to judge the extent OF the ad-
vance of the Tentons In tho other dts
trictg. II the movement from the north
keeps pace with that from the north
east and the east. however. the pre-
dicament of General Cadorna's forces
necessarily will be serious one and
il is not beyond the realms OF possi-
bility that unless the eastern armies
are nble to make stand on the plains
OF i'riuli, further considerable num-
Der of the Italians viii be captured.
Relief Is Endangered.
Nothing has been vouchsated in
| official communications to Indicate
wha, the situation Is In the Trentino
sector, which lies TO the west and
northwest of the present zone OF ac-
tivity, but 1t Is not improbable that If
IA unofficial adstces have stated, the
Austro- Swiss frontier has been closed.
rcinforcements, both from Germany
and Austria, are Ding hurried UP for
an offensive of great magnitude In
this region, The driving back of the
Italians southwark in this region
might seriously affect the plans Of tho
entente allies to send relief to General
Cadorna If the route chosen for this
| purpose were across the Franco ital-
ian border and eastward by rail.
In the retreat of the Italians, the
British artillery units which early In
the spring were sent TO the Isonzo
front to aid the Italians in their drive
toward Triest, saved all their guns,
but the men suffered severely from
| cold. the inclement weather and lack
Of food.
Field Marshal Haig again has sent
+, forward his forces in the ypres sector
on what apparently were Intended as
| line STRENGTHENING operations, and again
| has been successful In gaining the
greater poXion of his objective. The
attacks wer. delivered over small
| fronts in the regions of Passchendaele
! and Poe'capelle. where spurs Of ridges
| and other points of vantage were
| taken.
| The Canadians with their usual
| brilliancy of attack. early in the Of
! f.nsivc gained their objectNes, in
| Guiding crest farm. 400 yards from the
| heart of Passchen n,laele. Some of them
even penetrated into the town itself
| and also were close to the village OF
| Goebcrg to the north. The German
| official communication admits that
fasschendaele was captured, but as
scrts that later tho Canadians were
driven out.
| ON the other battle fronts, except for
! spirited artillery fighting In the Aisne
| and Meusc sectors of France, the op-
, era tions have been of a minor char :
| actrr.
Party Differences Foryotten.
| Rome Monday. Oct aa.--rhe wiping
ont oil the party differences and the
strengthening OF Itaiy'a morale in the
face of the present military effort by
the Austro-German coalition Is ex.
emplified In the statement issued by
two OF the political parties. the Cath
| oics and the official Socialists. No
party sentiment must be recognized in
this time of trial, these statements de
| clare.
The effect of the participation o
German troops In the offensive ha.
been the elimination OF the few re
manning sympathizers with Germany
together with the arausing of the fight
ing spirit to a marked degree amon
Italians in general.
General Cadorna's bulletins an
causing the nation to realize that 1t