 On 24 October, The Austro-German 14th Army ( Otto von Below) inflicted a great defeat on the Italian Army at the Battle of Caporetto.In fear that Italy might be put out of the war, the French and British Governments promised to send six divisions each to the Italian Front.The troops were rapidly and efficiently transferred between 10 November and 12 December, due to good administrative preparations made by the French Chief of Staff Ferdinand Foch, who had been sent to Italy in April 1917 to plan for such an emergency.