New Britain herald., 1917-11-01
RETREAT|NG TROOPS
NOT DISHEARTENED
Historic Battle on Italian Front
Described by Eye Witness
BRITISH SAVE GUNS
General Staff Places Severe Ban ON
Details Canadians Capture Three
Fortified Farms-Lloyd George Saws
Zeppelin Raids Are Insignifcant-

cOTCueU cUGU1S-AAOyU = george Says
Zeppelin Raids Are Insignifcant-
London, Nov. AL the British
guns with the italian army were
saved, according to a British cor
respondent at Italian headquarters.
who says that the spirits of the
British gunners are good. Lack Of
| transport which could not be allotted
to them was their whole trouble. One
gun was so near to having to be
| abandoned that the breach mechanism
| was destroyed. The gun was saved
eventually. t.,s ,m
The correspondent, who accom-
panied the retreat of the third Italian
army from the Carso In despatch
dated Tuesday says that the troops
were cheerful and good-tempered and
1t was evident that flrmness of COM
mand could re-organize them into a
fighting force. The Duke of Aosta,
commander OF the third army was
calm and confident Monday night as
his army had saved nearly all its
guns.
The right wing Of the second army
also fell back regularly from Sabo-
tino and Gorilla. The troops on tho
left of the second army also were
retiring steadily from their mountain
positions SO as to get into line with
the left Of the new defensive front.
The italian general staff, the writer
says, naturally has placed severe
ban on, all details of what happened
during the past few days, but has per-
1No3tk ~ q do0Nrinf4nn n
destruction Of Italian stores. - The
correspondent says: :,
'The sky was constantly springing
into a livid flare like an instantaneous
sunset followed by deep grumbling
roar. Black clouds of smoke were
outlined against the glowing heavens.
Ammunition depots were being blown
up, stores we're being burned and
bridges destroyed. The glare Of ex-
plosions gave light Of ghastly bril-
lance over the throngs OF the retreat
ing army. aNAs
"A rainstorm broke and lasted for
three hours, often with extreme vio-
lence. 1t added to the hardships of
the retreat, already severe enough,
and must have meant death to many
of those wounded While covering the
retreat, but it delayed the enemys
advance by swelling the river, soften
ing the ground to mud and making
air "Reminiscences and bombing raids
on contested roads and railways Inn
possible. Such are the outlines of the
story of which fuller details are not
permitted.
'.The situation Is undoubtedly grave
but the silence which the interests OF
the army now impose must not be
construed as an Indication that things
are worse than they actually are. The
blow has been severe but 1t will not
crush Italy"
The military correspondent of the
Times says of the Italian operations:
"The fact that General Won Buelow
with an inconsiderable force of Ger
man troops has burst through the
Julian front and that Austrian
columns have found other badly de-
tended points in the Carnic Alps is GER
tainly very unfortunate and we have
no need to minimize the gravity Of the
situation. Italy's eastern frontier
temporarily Is lost"
The correspondent finds a silver
lining 10 the cloud in that although
the season approaches for the opera
!! tions in France and Flanders to die
down there Is nothing to prevent
fighting on the Italian plains through
out the winter. This is advantageous
to the side with the greatest resources.
He adds
"The Germans beckon us to the
italian front and with a very hearty
will we shall oblige them"