New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-07
Teutons Strike
Again at Italy;
Take 1900
Rome Admits Withdrawal
on Six-Mile Front
Near Asiago

LONDON, Dec Elm one of the
most violent and sanguinary battles
yet fought on Italian soil the Ger
mans yesterday wrested from the
Italians strong positions on the Asiago
front and swept in 1900 prisoners
and more than sixty guns, Berlin an
nounced to-day.
Won Bellows prodigious offensive, de-
veloping from the mountain strong
holds in the Sette Comuni which he
captured on Tuesday, has forced the
defenders to withdraw their lines along
a front of about six miles, from the
slopes south of Monte Castelgomberto
20 the Foza spur, according TO the
Italian communiqu6. This region is
directly north of Asiago village, mid
way between the upper Brenta and
Astico rivers, where the invaders are
striving to break through the mountain
barrier to Vicenza and the Venetian
plains.
Stubborn Defence Made
Great stress is laid in the Italian
War Office report on the savage nature
of the struggle now in progress and
on the efforts of King Victor's troops
TO check the enemy's onrush.
"The ponderous effort of the enemy"
says the statement, carried out with
crushing numerical preponderance, met
with stubborn resistance and numerous
counter attacks. ground being yielded
foot by foot" In both official and un-
official dispatches there are indications
that the Germans and Austrians are
putting forth their mightiest efforts TO
obtain a decision against Italy by
preaching the northern front.
The Teuton attack is concentrated
on "a stretch of ten miles, from Monte
Sisemol north through Monte Meletta
and east to Monte Badenecche. The
enemy's initial stroke was aimed to-
ward the southeast from the rugged
ground between Sisemol and Meletta
and was broken up in furious hand-to-
hand combats in which the assailants
suffered terrific losses.
In the second effort greater masses
az German and Austrian troops were
thrust forward and after severe fight
ing they succeeded in compelling an
Italian withdrawal on Tuesday between
Monte Tondarecar and Monte Bade
necche, west of Cismon.
Enemy Assault Costly
Yesterdays attack, far surprising in
force all the preceding actions, was
directed against the formidable posi-
tions of Monte Castelgomberto and
Meletta di Gallo Failing to carry
these bastions from the rear, Won
Below was compelled TO resort to a
costly frontal assault. The battle on
the mountain slopes ragged all day long
and far into the night, when the
Italians were finally forced behind the
line of the Foza spur, which had previ-
ously been fortified.
On Monte Flor and Monte Castel-
gomberto the Italian Alpini fought TO
the bitter end, preferring death TO re-
treat, the official communique reports.
While the Teutons have now ad-
vanced perilously near TO the plains
Of Venetia in their northern drive, the
Italians still hold formidable positions.
The entrance of French and British
armies into the great struggle IS eX-
pected momentarily. Until then there
is little likelihood of any powerful re-
actions by the Italians, who at present
are contenting themselves with yield
ing ground slowly and allowing the
enemy to wear himself out with the
= .a.ag.l