Norwich bulletin., 1917-10-30
ITALIAN LINE IS HOLDING
 AGAINST TERRIFIC ASSAULT
Word From Rome Has Relieved An
 xiety of Washington Officials.

Washington, Oct. 29.-Word from Rome today that the Italian line was holding against the terrific assault of the Austro-German forces was re- ceived by official Washington with in terest and relief. Military authori- ties here have not disguised their keen anRiety as press reports showed the Italians wavering backward under the crushing blows of the enemy.
 Satisfaction was found also tonight tn the announcement from London that steps already had been taken by the French and British to support the Italian front. There was no indica- tion of what operations that announce ment might foreshadow.
 Even accepting the German claims at face value. many officers here be- Heve General Cadorna will be able to check the drive if the morale of his army was not shattered. The an- nouncement from Rome that all ele- ments of the Italian forces were obey fng orders of the general staff was viewed was setting at rest, for the time at least. the gravest fears for the final outcome of the struggle.
 The announcement was taken to mean that General Cadorna had suc- ceeded in reuniting the forces scat tered by the first fierce rush of the Austro-German army and was falling back steadily and behind a well-or- ganized defense to the line selected for a stand
 In his weekly summary, made public today. Secretary Baker said Italy was passing through a critical moment. The statement was prepared before the full extent of the attack had de- veloped, but it indicated the opinion in military circles here that General Cadorna might find it necessary to so recently by his forces when only the Austrians faced them.
 The belief prevails here that the underlying motive of the German high
 -I. S1 I tack and has furnished the men and guns for the drive. is a purely politf- cal one. Army officers point out that it was launched with lavish stage eff rounced as in supreme command and with the German general, Won Mack ensen as the guiding genius of the movement. Already Won Mackenson overrun Serbia and all but crushed the Rumanian forces in similar drives. He is regarded as the striking head of the German war machine. the man of the hour when a headlong assault is to be delivered.
 With such an association of digni- taries, leading the heralded onslaught, some observers assert that anything short of the annihilation of the Italian army must be regarded as negative German victory if not a defeat.
 Reports from Rome that political party lines are vanishing in the great emergency, support the belief that no political upheaval is to be expected. On the contrary, in view of some di- p1omats, the assault probably will serve to steel the Italian people to CO., operative efforts against the enemy such as they have only dreamed of heretofore.
 Behind the position into which the Italians now have been forced lies the l old defence line established many years ago by Italian soldiers, the line 1 of '66. It was selected because of | new rail and wagon roads, distribut- l ing machinery and all that is needed 1 for the maintenance of a great army | are said to have been provided in an | tfcipation of backward movement.