The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-11-03

ers are reported 20 nave oSen
taken. ~
London, Nov. 2.-Teutons and ItaI-
ians are lined up along the Tagliamefi-
TO. the former on the east bank. the
latter on the western shore. Ind
violent criss-cross fire is booming the
alternating messag es: We are ready
aud so are We.
Ever dispatch from the front which
today is the center of the universe In
l., a.et this defiant reciprocal can
nonading is ushering in the great bat
tle that has been heralded as "Itaiy's
Marine" The Italians are reinforced
by at least 80, 600 French and British
troops Every gun that was saved
| from the Isonzo debacie has been ems
placed on the east OF the swollen Tag
| liamento. King Victor Emmanuel ana
| Premier Orlando have arrived at 1tal-
! ian headquarters to witness the great
clash If ( comes
| But will it come, here. on the Tag
| liamento? Every military expert In
| Europe is tonight puzzling over the
question and none pretends to know
the answer. Many are inclined to
doubt.
Cardonn Can Choose Battlefield.
1t Is Cadorna who holds the choice
of the battlefields and those who have
| watched this master strategist in past
I campaigns are convinced he will make
the fullest use of this tremendous adj
| vantage. Having extricated his ar
mics from the various traps east OF
the Tagliamento he now commands
one.of the several avenues to foresta.
further traps. The gravest menace to
hts forces. now that they are across
the river, turks from the north and
northwest, from the Dolmites and the
Trentino. The Teuton armies from,
there have not moved. But at any
moment they may try to dash down to
take the Italians in the rear
1t Is Just that menace which those
who doubt that the decisive battle is
$ at hand. have in mind. They believe
Cadorna is merely screening his fur
sher withdrawal by a maximum artil-
a lcry defence on the Tagliamento, de-
? terTuined to exact heavy toll for the
feutou crossing and TO have his main
forces far to the westward when the
Teutons 10 cross.
2 After a great delaying combat on
= the Tagliamento. he could fight an
I other on the LivenZa. some fifteen
> miles 70 the west, finally making his
: real stand on the Piave, thirty miles
{ from the Tagliamento. There. and
: there alone 1t q argued by some ex-
perts, 'he could have his eye on both
I
= mics"
Meanwhile. with winter at the DOR,
, he would have greatly heightened thu
+, Teuton communications while shorten
: ing his own
Thus. Cadorna is looked upon b. tho
allied world tonight as perhaps ths
e one man who holds i'll his hands the
fate of the war. In every quarter there
3 prevails unsuitable confidence that
= he viii prove more thar equal TO his
= tremendous responsibility.
{ Dispatches from the Italo- Teutor
I front today dealt largely with details
OF the last ten days fishtiuy. or inc
n present situation the Rome war osiiee
ri to-day said:
Along the Tasliamento there YVES
n reciprocal artillery activity. Enemy
; patrols advancing along. the least,
+ bank were repulsed by our guntre"
In Germany and Austria juhiiatiou
over the Venetian successes continues,
The kaiser sent a message to General
Won Ruelow. who commands the Tcu-
ton troops in italy.
: Our faithless former ally 1t says.
has experienced what Germ III
strength and German wrath can ac-
thanks Its Incompatible sons. For
; ward with God"
II At the same time the emperor orr
a dered flags out" and salutes In Al-
t SAGE Lorraine and Prussia to celebrate
e the Teuton victories
: British press rebukes for alleged
y British inaction in the face Of Italian
pleas for help were answered in the
house of commons today by ]. + Me
p Pherson. parliamentary secretary foi
/; war. who said such requests had NO
:, been made. General Cadorna not Eav'
ing doubted at any time that he hal
:. the situation in hand