WAR MEMOIRS OF DAVID LLOYD GEORGE 1917

THE CAPORETTO DISASTER 501
position along the Piave would be turned, and a further retreat
might become necessary. Monte Grappa was now being occupied,
and everything was being done to check the rapidity of the German
advance, but there was no doubt that grave danger was
threatening on that sector.
Mr. Lloyd George then spoke very strongly about the state
of the Italian High Command. He said the accounts which had
reached the British and French Governments were such as to
make them press strongly for a complete change. They were all
the more entitled to make these representations, not only in the
interest of the Italian Army itself, but of the British and French
Armies, which were now appearing in Italy, and which would
come under the supreme direction of the Italian High Command.
The King of Italy replied that, although he did not in every
respect agree with the criticisms which had been made against
General Cadorna, yet he thought that great weight should be
attached to the representation that had been made, and his Government
had already decided to remove General Cadorna from
the command, and to appoint in his place General Diaz, who,
although a comparatively junior officer, had been on the General
Staff both before and since the War, and was generally recognised
as the brains of the Italian Army and a profound student of the
science of war. He himself (the King of Italy) had very great
confidence in General Diaz, who certainly would be his own choice
from among the officers of the Italian Army. To strengthen the
Staff still further, the Government had decided to appoint General
Giardino, the former Minister of War, as assistant to General
Diaz. General Giardino was stated to be a man of great executive
energy and would usefully supplement the work of General Diaz.
Mr. Lloyd George explained, with reference to the situation on
the Piave and Trentino Fronts, that the British and French Governments
and military advisers were not certain that the best use
was being made of the four French divisions in moving them west
of Lake Garda along the Val Giudicaria, especially in view of the
considerations already referred to by His Majesty that the real
danger was threatening between the Asiago Plateau and the
Upper Piave. Both the British and French Government were