12 JANUARY 1918, Page 2

In Italy the enemy remains quiescent. Snow has at last

fallen in the hills to the north of Venice, and has made any large offensive movement impossible. The gallant defence offered by the Italian armies on the Asiago plateau and between the Brenta and the Piave has thus achieved its purpose, by checking the onrush of the triumphant enemy, and giving the Allies time to go to the rescue. General Plumer's army on the Montello is harassing the' Austrian outposts on the other side of the Piave, and our skilled airmen from the French front are finding the Austrian airmen an easy prey.