The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1917-12-27
LATINS WIN IN
DESPERATE Fight
Italians ReCapture Lost Positions
From TeutoNS mall
Day Battle.
ENEMY COLUMN IS DESTROYED
statsmsnt by British War Office says
Situation Remains Unchanged
Berlin Claims Capture of
5000 Prisoners.

Rome, Dec. 26.-In desperate bat
he which lasted all day, the Italians
fought their way back to the positions
from which they were forced the pre-
vious day on the Asiago plateau I'M
der Austro- German attack, according
TO the war office statement.
Some guns and numerous machine
guns which had been abandoned by
the Italians in their retirement were
secaptured.
Fight Lasts All Day.
The statement reads:
ION the Asiag0 plateau the battle
which continued fercely and SAN
gulnly diminished In intensity only at
nlghtfall.
"Our counter-attacks, made several
hours before dawn, succeeded, In spite
Of the difficult terrain and the very low
temperature, In arresting the enemy
and carrying the fighting on to the po-
sitlons from which we had moved the
previous day.
"The enemy defended the ground
gained with great stubbOrnness, cOun-
tering our counter-attacks and concer-
trating In front Of his line a formid-
able fire from numerous batteries.
despite the vicissitudes of the
Herce struggle some batteries and
many machine guns which had been
left In the destroyed lines were recov-
cred.
Destroy Enemy Column.
can enemy column advancing from
Bertico toward the heights to the
west Of Malaga Costalunga was de-
Btroyed by our fire.
"a battalion succeeding In wrestling
from the enemy and holding for some
time the summit of Monte Val Bella,
while other attachments, having as
cended the slopes of Col del ROsso,
engaged the enemy in heavy hand-tO-
hand fighting.
During the action hundreds Of our
gums Of all calibers increasingly bonn
barded the enemy troops, dispensing
concentrations behind the line and
stopping the advance IF supports. We
e0OA a number of prisoners"
Foe Claims 5000 captlves.
Berlin, Dec. 2e.-ItaIian counter-at-
racks upon the positions taken In the
AustrO-German attack Of Sunday were
eepulsed on Monday, as was an Italian
Drive at Monte Pertica, army head
quarters announced.
More than 5000 prisoners were
taken In the Col Del ROsso fighting,
Says the official statement.
First British Report Made.
London, Dec 26.-The first state
ment by the British war Office dealing
with the italian front, where British
troops now occupy a sector, was issued
Sele The text reads:
"Slnce a portion Of the italian front
was taken over by British troops there
has been no change in the situation on
Ehe British front. There has been ac-
live counter-bRttery work and our air
men have given good account of
themselves, but have been hampered
by unfavorable weather during the last
few days
"Scme snow has fallen and the cold
severe, especially in the mountains.
The health and spirit of the troops are
excellent"
Claim Second Peak.
The Austrian official statement Of
Monday as received here supplements
the German statement of that date re-
garding the capture of Col Del Rosso
BY reporting the capture also of Monte
Val Bella. 1t also states likewise that
h colonel and several Italian staff Of
dcers were captured.