The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-11-16
By the Associated Press)

Italian Headquarters in Northern
Italy, Wednesday, Nov. 1.-THE Ital-
ian general staff gave the first oppor-
tunity today TO see the Piave river bat
tie front, and the correspondent was
among the first four civilians author
lied to take the trip. 1t came at an
opportune moment when the enemy
had succeeded in getting small parties
across the river at two points ana
when the holding or breaking of the
Piave line promised to bring the whole
issue into the balance for Italy, ana
to some extent, for the entente allies.
An officer from headquarters ives in
charge Of the party. which gave II free
access through the rear lines to the
Piave, where the chief points along the
thirty miles OF front where visible and
a view obtained of the whole range
OF the gigantic operations
CannOnade Continuous.
The Piave river appeared rather wide
al this point, although further on II
was so narrow that it was difficult to
believe a desperate foe could be re-
strained by such a barrier in the face
of the Italians heroic resistance
Across the river five small villages
now held by the enemy could be seen
The cannonade now had become heavy
and continuous. and bursts of smoke
from the hills on the other side of the
Piave marked the line of the enemy's
batteries.
The route now turned along the west
bank of the river where long lines of
peaceful villages had been transformed
suddenly by terror or the enemy bonn
bardment.
People Are Terrified.
The townspeople were gathering
hastily their belongings, and the wom-
en- and children seemed terrified as
they hurried awav from the sounds OF
the guns.
Houses along the road had been
transformed into temporary field hos
pitals. There were ambulances along
the road but no sign of wounded Bat
teries and field guns were moving
down to 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
The party had now reached village
three miles from the Piave line ana
the sheling was continuous. AS the
army automobile came up the road to
the railway station shell burst
Views Long Battle Line.
A soldier led the way through a
thicket UP the side of hill. where an
Italian observation post had been es-
tablished. and from this point of van
tage the correspondent looked out on
the long lines on both banks of the
river The town of Nidor. now held
by General Won Bellows German troops,
was Just across the river from the
point of observation and big German
sausage balloon was insolently hanging
over the town observing the work of
Italian batteries.
The campanile at Nidor was distinct
lv visible and with field glasses sew
eral men could be seen moving about
the outskirts of the town. How this
could be with such shelling going on
was difficult to understand.
Advantage of the Enemy.
The advantage the Germans had at
this point was evident, as the hills rose
back of the town, giving them screen
for their batteries. These played
down on the Italians in the plain on
the eastern side of the riveC
Al the vineyards haystacks and
gathered crops are being sacrificed in
the present emergency. Nearing the
river. the roads were full Of frightened
civilians hurrying away with their pit
liable families on the top of household
goods carried on carts and wagons.
The town of Nervesa on the river :
edge was deserted completely as the
party passed down to the wharves, and
the silent town had sepulchral aspect.
Great Wine Vats Abounded.
Officers led the way, creeping in
single file into an old warehouse stand
ing on the edge of the Piave river. II
had already been target and the side
towards the river was sieved with ma
chine gun fire There were two huge
shell holes. The great wine watts OF
the warehouse. still full. had been
abandoned in the hasty flight OF the
villagers.
The river at this point is extremely
narrow, with a long shoal through the
middle. affording the enemy means OF
getting half way over The scout Off
Ger said both channels measured to-
tai depth of 500 metres. or about half
mile II appeared trifling as mill
D -. 10 q.