Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-11-16
Associated Press Cores
pondent Graphically De-
scribes Scenes.
GETS VIEW OF
VAST WAR SCENE
Taken to Front Escorted by Officer and
From Eminence Witnesses Activities
of Italians in Effort to Check Aus
ro-Germans at Piave River-Popu-
lace Fleeing in Terror, Soldiers Con-
fident as They Enter Fighting Zone.
rBy the Associated Press.l

Italian Headquarters In Northern
Italy, Nov. A.-[Delayed]-The Italian
general staff gave the first opportunity
to see the Piave battle front and the
correspondent was among the first four
civilians authorized to take the trip.
1t came at an. opportune moment
when the enemy had succeeded In get
ting small parties across the river at
two points, and when the holding or
breaking Of the 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 staff headquar-
ters was in charge Of the party and
had free access to the rear lines Of
the Piave. where the three points along
the thirty mile front are visible.
Troops Cheerful.
Some ten miles back from the river
the correspondent passed thru solid
miles Of troops coming and going to the
front. Those going to the rear werc
Undiscovered and tired but not dis
heartened. Those going forward ap-
peared resolute and some were singing.
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 q
small cross road church marked the
place where he used to be a curate be-
fore his elevation to the papacy.
An air raid took place as the party
passed near the church. Five shots
were fired but the raider got away.
At the outskirts of the villages there
were long lines of chevaux- de frise
ready to obstruct infantry rushes.
Along the road military telegraph
lines were strung on the tops Of busses
as there had been no time to erect
poles.
Great View Of Battle Panorama.
The first stop was made at Asolo, ten
miles back from the river, where the
ancient castle where Catharine of
Cyprus abdicated Is located on a high
hill, which gave great view Of the
battle panorama The climb to the
elevation was 700 feet.
Across the Piave five small villages
now held by the enemy could be seen.
Houses, churches and towers stood out
plainly. These were on the plain bor-
dering the east bank for half a mile
where the foothills rose to high hills
where the German batteries were To-
Gated.
The cannonading had become heavy
and continuous bursts Of smoke from
III "a ~
enenny's batteries.
PopuIace Terrified.
The route now turned along the west
bank of the river where long lines Of
peaceful villages had been transformed
suddenly by terror Of the enemy's
bombardment. The townspeople were
hurriedly gathering their belongings
together and the women and children
hurried away terrified.
The party passed groups of "arditi"
which indicated that the fighting
ground is getting very near.
Arditi Is the italian word for ardent
and they are men who volunteer to
risk everything and, to push to the ex-
treme front Their shirt fronts were
open, altho it was a cold autumn day,
and they looked the daredevils they
are known to be.
Houses all aalong the road had been
transformed into temporary field hos
pitals. Soldiers near one house We're
carrying flowers which looked like
gaiety. but other soldiers who followed
with funeral wreath made it look
more like death.
There were ambulances along the
road but no signs Of wounded. At one
point alpini were waiting to go for
ward. Batteries and field guns we're
moving toward the river with evergreen
boughs screening the guns. The whole
western bank of the Piave is lined with
beautiful villas and extensive parks
filled with statuary.
Gets View Of Both Lines
The party now had reached vii
loge three miles from the Piave line
and the shelling was continuous. AS
the army automobile came up the road
to the railway station q shell burst
squarely in the road 100 yards ahead.
"They are shelling the road" said the
escort, as he wheeled the automobile
behind the station, where groups of
soldiers were crouching iii the door
ways. One OF the fragments Of this
shell buried itself in the wall Of the
station.
A soldier led the way thru thicket
up hill to an observation post and
from this point Of vantage the corre-
spondent looked out on the long lines
on both banks Of the river.