CADORNA, ki-dor-na, Luigi, COUNT, Italian general, son of General Count Raffaele Cadorna: b. 1'allanza 1850. After receiving his early education at a cadet school he passed the Staff College and was attached to his father's staff in 1870 when the latter — a bril liant soldier—led the Italian army into Papal territory in 1870 and blew in the Porta Pia. He attained the rank of captain in 1875, and was ultimately appointed chief of staff of the Verona Army Corps. After commanding the 10th Bersaglieri he was promoted major-gen eral in 1898 and lieutenant-general in 1905. For a time he commanded a division at Ancona and was subsequently appointed corps commander at Genoa, with the rank of commander-desig nate of an army in the field. In 1914 he suc ceeded General Pollio as chief of the general staff. His reputation as a professional soldier had long been established throughout Europe, for he had written works on military science and possessed a unique knowledge of that dif ficult terrain in which, if ever, Italy would be called upon to fight her old enemy and quon dam ally Austria. When Italy entered the war in May 1915 Count Cadorna was given the supreme command in the field. His battle front of about 480 miles was the most difficult one in Europe, presenting enormous geograph ical obstacles, the angle of the Trentino, the great wall of the Dolomites and the Carnic and Julian Alps. The Italian successes of 1916,
including the capture of Gorizia, were neutral ized by the great Austro-German drive against Italy that began on 23 Oct. 1917. By the even ing of the 28th the whole Italian line was in retreat and General Cadorna fell back upon the Tagliamento. Gorizia fell to the enemy and Udine was lost. The mountain defenses in the Carnic Alps began to crumble and the disaster soon extended to Cadore. Abandoning the Tagliamento lines on 5 November Cadorna fell back upon the Piave after an unsuccessful at tempt to hold the Livenza. The Italian losses were estimated by the enemy at 250,000 men and 2,300 guns, and the Allies suffered a defeat in the field unparalleled in the war. French and British troops were rushed to the scene, but the Italians recovered themselves by their own efforts and made a firm stand on the Piave. On 9 Nov. 1917, a Supreme Political Council of the Allies for the whole of the western front was created, and General Cadorna was ap pointed a member of the permanent central military committee. On 10 Feb. 1918 Cadorna was succeeded as a member of the Supreme War Council by Gen. Gaetano Giardino. He was succeeded in his command by General biaz.
See WAR, EUROPEAN - AUSTRO-ITALIAN CAM