Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-11-16
OPEN F[OODGATES.]]
CHECKING GERMANS
ON LOWER PAVE
Italians Release Water Over
Plains Forming Triangle 12..
Miles on Each Side. n
NATURAL BARRIER NOW y
SEVERAL FEET DEEP,
Menace of Venice Bombardment
Lessened-Berlin Claims Capture
of Cismon on Northern Front. /

S>SssS~ASN 0SAAAAA SA<AAA&0 S0Ht040
Of cismon on Northern Front. !
ROME, November 16.-AM along {
the mountain front from Asiago
to the Piave river the attacks Of
the Austro-German forces which
are seeking to crush In the Italian
line have been repuIsed, it is an
nounced officially. All the posi-
tions attacked yesterday remained ;
in the hands of the Italians. +.
Embattled for the protection Of Ven.
ice and Lombardy, the Italians have
opened the foodgates Of the Piave and
Sile rivers, northeast Of Venice, to keep
N check the Austro- German force which
has crossed the Piave near Grisolera.
In inundating the triangle, whose apex
is near San Dona di Piave, the Italinns
have prevented any enemy movement to
flank the right wing of the italian army
along the Piave.
In the mountains between Asiago and
the Piave the great pressure Of the in
vaders has not brought great results
though Cismon has been taken. On tho
Asiago plateau the italians are straight-
ening out their line gradually, and it ID
here that the Austro- Germans have pros
gressed slightly. These gains, however,
apparently have not been of great stra-
tegic value and the danger of the Piave
line being outfanked, although still
present, probably has not become serious
enough to cause any changes in the Ital-
ian plans. The Teuton pressure between
the Sugana valley and the Piave is very
strong, but the Italians have been able
to check violent attacks at various
points along the sector.
Hugo Triangle ,s.s.slsa
BY the Associated Press gssss -
ITALIAN HEADQUARTERS II
NORTHERN ITALY, Thursday. Novem<s
ber 15.-The Hood gates of the Piave
and Sile. or Old Piave, rivers have
been opened by italian military en-
gineers, and the enemy is now faced
by another User Of inundation.
The food was loosed at the point
where the enemy succeeded in crossing
the Piave near Grisolera (four miles
from the coast) and the whole region
under water. The inundated territory
forms a huge triangle about twelve
miles on each side, with the apex at
Dona Di Piave.
M
still held on within this triangle until
the dykes from both rivers released
the water over the low-lying plain.
The chief menace at that point was
proach Venice through the lagoon or
lombard the city from his position be-
tween the rivers. The inundation in
terposes a barrier of water twelve
miles across and several feet deep.
Reports which have reached head
quarters from other points on the front
are also favorable.
Inspects Battle Front.
The Italian general stan gave the
first opportunity today to see the Piave
battle front. and the correspondent
was among the first four civilians au.
thoriZed to take the trip. 1T came at
an opportune moment, when the enemy
had succeeded in getting small parties :
across the river at two points and
Piave line promised to bring the whole
issue into the balance for Italy. and to
some extent for the entire entente.
An officer from the headquarters staff
was in charge of the party, which gave
1t free access through the rear lines to
the Piave. where the chief points along
the thirty miles of front were visible
and view obtained Of the whole range
of the gigantic operations.
Solid Miles of Troops.
Some ten miles back from the river
the correspondent passed through solid
miles of troops coming and going to
the front. Those. going to the rear
were mud covered and tired, but not
Those going forward ap-
peared resolute, and some were sing
ing. Refugees afoot and In OK carts
crowded the fields and roads, seeking
safety from this sudden onrush Of the
enemy.
The party passed Riete. a little ham,
let where Pope Plus x was born. and
a small crossroads church marked the
place where he used to be curate be-
fore his elevation to the papacy.
An air raid took place as the party
passed near the church. Five shots
were fred. but the raider got away.
as they stood gazing at the
black pail Of smoke in the east. At the
outskirts of the village there were long
lines of chevaux-de-frise ready to OBJ
struct infantry rushes.
Along the road toward the front mill
tary telegraph lines were strung ON 4
the tops of buses, as there had been no
time to erect poles.
View From Queens Castle.
The first stop was made at Asolo. ten
niles back from the river, where the
ancient castle to which Queen Catha-
line OF Cyprus retired on her adbica-
ion. located on high hill, gave q
view Of the whole pano-
anna Of the battle front. The climb to
he castle was 700 feet. and from this
,minence spread out a peaceful plain
o the west. and the battle line to the Z
,ast.
The Piave lay straight ahead. II ap-
,eared rather wide at this point. al
houRh farther on 1t was SO narrow
hat it was difficult to believe a des-