17 NOVEMBER 1917, Page 14

The Italian armies in Venetia continued their retreat westwards till

Friday week, when they established themselves on the right bank of the Piave, which flows into the Adriatic twenty-five miles north-east of Venice. The forces holding the Dolomites region retreated southwards to the south-eastern corner of the Tnstatino, between the Brenta and the Piave, abandoning the towns of Bolluno and Feltre. The meet serious fighting of the week took place in the hills to the west of the Brenta, where the Italians stopped the great Austrian invasion of last year. Last Saturday, on Monday, alibi again on Tuesday the enemy attacked the Italian hill-positions, but made little impression on the defenders, except at Monte Longara. On Monday enemy detachments crossed the Lower Piave, fifteen miles from the mouth, but were attacked and repulsed towards the river-bank. Other attempts to cross the river on Tuesday failed. The Italians have brought their guns into action along their now line, which is barely one-tenth as long aa the long semi-circle of the Venetian Alps and the Cam.