Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-12-04
"They Shall Not Pass" the
Slogan at Verdun, Adopt
ed by the Italians in Their
Campaign.
Three Weeks of Constant
Attacks Have Failed to
Gain Ground at Monte
Grappa, the Point Where
Invasion Was Stopped.
BY HENRY WOOD.

With the French Armies in Italy
Dec. 4.--Italy began the fourth week
of her heroic defense of Monte Grappa
today.
The height has been second Yer
dun for Germany. Three weeks con-
stantly renewed attacks by the Aus
tro- Germans have failed to gain
ground Today the enemy, his vast
forces exhausted by the desperation
of the attack is reorganizing, readjust-
ing, refilling his shattered forces, per-
haps for another blow.
THEY SHALL NOT PASS"
At Verdun, French soldiers coined
the immortal phrase Ills ne passer on
ne pas"-"they shall not pass" They
backed the slogan with their heroic
deeds The crown prince did not pass,
At Monte Grappa, Italy's sturdy SOL
diers took up that phrase-"they shall
not pass" Today, they, too, have en-
shrined 1t on Italy's record of heroism.
THE ENEMY BEATEN.
The enemy is beaten at Monte Crap
pa. He may attack again after to-
days lull. But sthe temporary sus-
pension Of his plan to crash through
has been fatal to his campaign. From
now on, wherever he may seek to
strike, he will find every strategic
point on the Piawe front held down
not only by Italys heroic fighters, but
by veterans of the French and British
armies.
The Austro- German assault at Monte
Grappa constituted the Teutons' third
effort to turn the Italian flanks on the
Piave front.
WHOLE ARMY WIPED OUT.
The first endeavor was when the
Austrians launched the attack on the
lower Piave, against the Italian right
wing The result was the Italians
wiped out an entire Teutonic army
which crossed the river.
Immediately General Konrads and
Krobutin's armies attacked on the
left Italian wing-the second attempt
at Thanking. They burst out over the
Asiago plateau. There they were like
wise checked Then came the third
! trial between the Piave and the Brenta
| rivers. The enemy concentrated for
this supreme effort not only Konrad $
an, Krobutins armies but divisions
from the armies of both Krauss and
Yelo.
LAST BARRIER HOLDS.
In the center Of this third battle
| ground lay Mont. Grappa--a noun
famous crest, the southern slopes of
which descend abruptly TO the Vene-
| tian plains. The mountain was the last
barrier between the enemy and turn
ing of the Italian left wing. victory
| for the foe here would have meant re-
treat to the Adige-opening to Ger
man spoilation the Venetian plains
with the rich cities of Venice, Padua
! vicenza. Treviso.
Grappa's Importance thus equaled
| that of Verdun. Carrying out tht
/ parallel, Moune Pertica. Solarola
Spinoncia, Pallones Monfereta ape
| Tomba constituted the advanced de-
fenses OF the mountain-just as Fort'
| Douamont, yaux. Thiaumont, Froide'
Terre and others of Verdun's advanced
\ defenses constituted the outer chain
i of the French citadel.
USED CREAM OF TROOPS.
Against Grappa's outer ring th'
Germans launched the cream of tn
mountain fighting troops-just as tn,
crown prince threw his Prussian
against Douamont and the others a
lverdun. Al Grappa the famous Ger
man Alpen korps, the Austrian I'm
perial sharpshooters. German clias
T>~~t<. \