New-York tribune., 1917-12-17
Fortresses Aid
Holding Foe From Venice
Great Monitors With Lines of Stationary Batteries ano
Muddy Trenches Filled With Men, Mark Miles OF
Inundated Plain-Balk Germans at the Piave

behind as the BOAT worked its way into
The narrow channels running between
islands rank with great weed CROWNS
and through which human being could
hardly force his way, Even the GUS
tomary animal life Of any wilderness
seemed TO be lacking. except Tor rev
ducks seen flying occasionally around
some corner.
suddenly the press boat almost col
Iided with a erayish steel hulk secured
by chains and ropes to the shore. Inc
vessel. on which was mounted huse
pun. had taken up it's position on thls
spot the night before.
Defeated Attempt to Bridge River
II had successfully thrown shells to
the piave River. and many times had
defeated the efforts Of the Austrians 70
complete pontoon bridge TO the south
crn shore. In case enemy alrplanes
were seen during the day the monitor
was prepared TO slip it cables at night
fall and steam away to some other
spot where the Austrian shells would
be unable to reach il. but from when
point IL could continue its work OF de-
struction.
The monitor was but the first OF a
series. Others with lighter guns ana
lighter draft were lying in reserve,
readv at moments notice to slip
through the winding channels TO some
point nearer 10 the enemy ana IRON
ihere direct an unexpected FIRE on MS
Tho armament of the monitors gem
orallv decreased in size as the press
boat anproached more closely to the
front lines. and similarly the batteries
which here and there began TO make
their eppearance became lighter ana
LIGHTER. as the tortuous lagoons merged
ether in the Sile River or IN the size
Canal far to north of Venice;
The Teutons have occupied the en-
tire northern bank of the new fiaNe'
snd here aud three have been aole 70
nut little detachments across whlch
have struggled through the lnunaaled
territory and occupied isolated tarm-
houses.
Main Body Unable to Cross
The main pody Of the troops. how
ever. has been unable to cross over
because Of the activity OF the monitors
and stationary batteries, and they are
unable to inhict any serious Damage
because tney are lOO IN "'sS r
Venice for their big guns TO be ehec-
live. They have reached Santa Dona
di piave. which is about sixteen and
threc-ousrters miles as the crow Mes
northeast of Venice, but the Italians
hold Musile. on the south bank OF the
river opposite Santa Dona di Pave,
and have been able to prevent the leu
tons from bringing any heavy artillery
up to that point, from which venice
possibly might be bomoarded.
The press boat ploughed through
seemingly endless mazes or canals,
meeting with more monitors and new
and cunningly located batteries, which
az the afternoon approached, began to
get into activity. especially against
airplanes that were circlins about.
The guns here made even those on the
biggest monitors look like playthngs.
TO make the trip complete the cor
respondents were treated to a glimpse
of the British monitors. which were IN
operation in unison with those OF the
Italians. The sunset had turned the
waters of Venice into what looked like
a sea of blood as the press boat
steamed back into what probably is the
best protected city threatened by the
war.