TWO PREMIERS’ JOURNEY

FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT PARIS, MONDAY NIGHT

I am now allowed to announce that General Foch and Sir William Robertson, the Chiefs of the French and British Staffs, went to the Italian front last week. I may add that General Foch two months ago was in Italy, and drew up complete military plans with General Cadorna. These were ready down to the smallest detail. Thus is explained the swiftness with which Anglo-french help has reached the Italians, and which has already been a surprise to the enemy. The meeting of Mr. Lloyd George, M. Painlevé, Signor Orlando, General Robertson, General Foch, and General Smuts in Rome, where the King of Italy will also see the representatives of France and England, has much political as well as military importance. Mr. Lloyd George and M. Painlevé go to Italy to bring encouragement, sound advice, and, I may say, warning to the Italian Government. It is no secret now that the Second Italian Army on the Isonzo broke because it was undermined by the enemy propaganda, both Socialist and Catholic. It is no secret also that the Austrogermans expected, and still expect, to clench matters now after the Italian reverse by alternate threats and sops to Italian public opinion. Luckily the Italian people has pulled itself together completely. Its confidence will now be completely restored by the present visit of the political and military chiefs of Italy’s Allies. FROM G. WARD PRICE. ITALIAN HEADQUARTERS, SUNDAY. The enemy’s patrols are across the Tagliamento River, on the Italian left wing at Pinzano, among other places, but, as Cadorna says in his communiqué, they are being contained. The position has thus to this extent improved, that even if the Italian retreat has to be carried farther back to a stronger line it has now become a fighting withdrawal.