The Mena weekly star., 1917-11-01

out the statement says.
 Washington, Oct. 29.-Word from Rome today that the Italian lines nere holding against the terrific as xaults of the Austro-German forces Kas received by official Washing ton with eager interest and frank rehef. Military authorities have not iisguised their keen anxiety as Dress reports showed the Italians Navering backward under the Brushing blows of the enemy.
 Satisfaction was found also in the Announcement from London that steps already had been taken by the French and British to support the Italian front There was no indi- fation of what operations that an- n0uncement might forshadow. Even aeeepting the German claims at face same many officers believe General Cadorna will be able to check the drive if the morale of his army was Asnot shattered. The announcement From Rome that all clements of the ltalian forces were obeying orders kpf the general staff was viewed as Setting at rest. for the time at least the gravest fears for the final out eome
 The announcement was taken toI mean that General Cadorna had Succeeded in reuniting the forces scattered by the first rush of the q zAustro-G Germans and was falling back behind a well organized de # fense to the line selected for a #stand
 # In his weekly summary made pub &iic today, Secretary Baker said Italy was passing thru a critical moment. T The statement was prepared before the full extent of the attack had de- & &veloped but it indicated the opin- R ion in military circles that General Cadorna might find it necessary to| surrender much of the terrain won so recently by his forces when only the Austrians faced them.
 The belief prevails that the un- deriving motive is purely political one. Army officers point out that t was launched with lavish stage effects; with the Austrian emperor as in supreme command and with the German General von Mackensen as the guiding genius of the move ment Already Von MacKensen has swept back the Russian lines, over run Serbia and all but crushed the Russian lines in similar drives He IS regarded as the striking head of the German war machine, the man of the hour, when a headlOng as- sault is to be delivered,
 With such an association of dlgnitaries leading the heralded on- . slaught some observers assert that i anything short of the annihilation Of the Italian army must be regard- ed as a negative German victory. if mol a defeat.
 Party Lines Vanish.
 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 tho View of some diplomats, the assault probably will serve to steel the Ital- Ian people to cooperative effort against the enemy such as they have only dreamed of heretofore. Be- hnd the position to which the Ital- lans now have been forced, lies the old defense line established many years ago by Italian soldiers, the line Of 66. It was selected because of natural advantages and along the line new rail and wagon roads are said to have been provided in antiei- patton of backward movement.
 Hurrying Achievements.
 London, Oct. 29-A dispatch toI the Exchange Telegraph from Rome says it is reported from Berne that the Austr0-Swiss frontier again has been closed and that the Germans are now hurrying endorsements to the Italian front. Italy Called for Guns Months Ago.
 London, Oct 29-The Pail Mall Gazette referring to the fact that the entente allies have taken steps to send assistance to the Italians say lt IS recalled that some months ago an appeal was made by Italy for guns. The newspaper adds that this ssppeal was strongly supported by prremler Lloyd-George, but at the tune the exigencies of the cam paign on the Western front, which was then opening, rendered full compliance impossible as the war ohlce and the generals at the front were making demands for guns winch were impossible to resist.
 100000 Prisoners Taken.
 London, Oct. Sweeping down rom the mountains into the plains oi Frluli, the Austro-Germans on Ile Italian front have captured Civi- uaie and Gorizia, one hundred thou .ahd prisoners and seven hundred