Cadorna
LUIGI, COUNT, an Italian General; born in Pallanza in 1850.
He was educated at a military school and the national staff college. He rose through various grades until in 1898 he became a major-general. He was made lieutenant-general in 1905, and at the outbreak of the World War became chief of the general staff, succeeding Gen. Pollio. In May, 1915, when Italy had renounced the Triple Alliance and entered the field on the side of the Allies, Cadorna was made generalissimo of the Italian armies. The terrain upon which he had to fight the Austrians was the most difficult in Europe, with the possible exception of certain parts of the Balkans. Precipitous mountains science. Yet Cadorna mastered these in the first two years of the war, and achieved notable successes in his offensive toward Gorizia (which he captured) and on the Carso Plateau. He was slowly but surely winning against GENERAL CADORNA the Austrians, until the defection of the Russians released the Austrian troops who were fighting on that front and enabled huge forces, co-operating with German shock troops, to be thrown against him. The great Austro-German drive was launched on Oct. 23, 1917, and resulted in an overwhelming disas ter to the Italian arms. Thousands of cannon and hundreds of thousands of men were captured and the army was forced to retreat to the Tagliamento and afterward to the Piave, where at last they made a stand. The disaster resulted in the retirement of Cadorna from command and his replacement by Gen. Diaz.