Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-11-01
AUSTRO-GERMANS
CAPTURE UD|NE
kalser's Troops Pushing On To-
ward TagIiamento.
RIVER HALTS CADORNA'S MEN
Rome Admits Armies Are Retiring, but
Tells of Cavalry Retarding Move
ment of Enemy-Heavy
Guns Saved

Berlin, via London, Oct 31-Udine.
| the former italian headquarters. has
| been occupied by Austro-German
| forces, army headquarters announced.
| The AuStrianS and Germans are
| pressing forward irresistibly in the
| northern Italian plain toward the
course of the Tagliamento river, the
statement says. AustrO-G German
troops, advancing from the Carnic
Alps, have reached Venetian soil on
the whole front and are pressing for
ward against the upper course of the
Tagliamento.
Retreat Stemmed by River.
The retirement Of the defeated Ital-
Ian army is being stemmed at the
few crossings of the river, which Is
greatly swollen.
1.-THE Tagliamento river, on its low
er course, is the defense line on which
General CadOrna is reported to have
elected to make his stand against the
German invasion.1
The statement follows:
"Udine has been taken by allied
Sormer seat of the italian main army
administration consequently has
fallen into our hands on the sixth day
Of the successful operations
Teutons Press Forward.
indifferent to the demands upon
them, our divisions are pressing ire
sistibly forward In the plain toward
thn 1P TO onl;
retirement of the defeated enemy
army Is being stemmed at the few
crossings of the river, which is great
ly swollen by downpours of rain.
"Our troops advancing out Of the
Carnic Alps have set foot on Vene-
tfan soil along the entire front and
are pressing forward against the up
per course Of the Tagliamento."
Battle Covering Retreat.
Rome, Oct. 31.-The italian retreat
continues, the war office announces.
The Italian cavalry is in contact with
the vanguards of the advancing army.
The Italians destroyed bridges over
| the IsonzO and fought rear-guard ac-
| tions, by which means they checked
| the AustrO- German advance.
Following Is the text of the state
ment:
During the day the withdrawal Of
our troops on their new positions was
continued. Destruction Of the bridges
over the IsOnzo, effectuated by our
| troops, and the successful action or
our covering units have detained the
advance of the enemy.
"Our cavalry Is in contact with the
! hostile vanguards."
General CadOrna's bulletins are
| causing the nation to realize that 1t Is
facing a severe trial, but the press re-
fleets spirit of determination on the
part Of the people that the loss of the
fruits of victory won IN the past shall
be but temporary.
The enemy's rapid gains Of the last
week are regarded as having been due
not so much to superior forces as to
| the element Of surprise.
According to Giornale< d'Italla, no
decisive battle has yet been fought.
although one Is expected to develop.
Such a battle, 1t is predicted, will be
| on large scale and involve wide move
ments In the open field, in the old
fashioned style.
The italian retreat, according to the
Messaggiere, Is being accomplished in
good order, with the artillery saved or
destroyed and stores and magazines
| burned.
The Messaggiere also declares the
Germans are making q mistake If they
| think to terrOriZe the Italians political
Iy by this effort and convert the cOun-
try into another Russia" 1t asserts
every revolutionary idea to make d
lame peace has disappeared, and that
the whole nation will fight until 5ust
and lasting peace has been won.
British "Heavies" Saved.
Italian. Headquarters, Oct 31.-Aftcr
three days with the retiring italian
army the correspondent, who has just
arrived at headquarters, is able TO
state that all the British batteries have
been saved The men suffered much
| from cold, torrential rain and hunger
| during the retreat.
| AS to the general situation of the
italian army in its retreat, the CORE
spondent, who has been In the thick Of
| the retirement, is prevented from Civ
| ing details by military necessity.