Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-11-19
ANNiHIi.ATED DY ARTILLERY
AND HAND-T0-HAND FIGHTING

In
ON the Piavc River. tao enemy go,
"troSs AT two points, Folina and
faEaTc. few miles above Zenson. IN.
nose ATTACKING Folina We're ami
Inflated by artillery and haud-toh.nd
g. "hi'c thc' attacking FaEare
We're driven back to the western hank
WIN hearF losses and many captured
lhe Italian navy is doing snlendja
service, sccondinS the army in m.
hoinba rdmcnt OF enemy positions to-
ward the mouth OF the P!ayc tn.
navy which held tho coast front from
me mouth Of ISonzo to Grade saved
all "i it's material and cannon. and
''cS' now are being trained on tho
enemy az the mouth of the river, and
l"r some distance up, where the water
IS deep and wide.
.Hcar Rcrcdoii. an Italian marine
battalion rcpulsed on Saturday a rush
made by an Austrian Storning party.
'nd Italian torpedo boats off Porto di
'nrtcl!ozzo drove off an attack OF an
Austrian torpedo feet This latter ac-
ton was accompa MED by operations OF
fleet Of Italian hydroplancs and sec
ond"d by Italian coast batteries
ON the middle riave River. where
ne Aus'rians succeeded in gaining a
ioothold on the west bank near Zen
son. they are held to the water edge.
and their only communication with the
east bank is at night. when a ratboat
IS dragged from side 10 side to bring a
small stock or supplies.
ticre on the shore line they have set
UP lin" of machine guns TO hold back
TN" Italians from rushing them into the
river.
Further north. where the front turns
westward. from the Piave River across
the AsiaSo plateau. General Ritter Won
krohatin, former Austrian Minister OF
War is driving his Austrian forces,
together with one hungarian division,
III an attack which may be the turnin .
point OF tho whole operation. !, is
here that the Piavc front and tho Trcn-
tino front meet. and General Won Kro-
natin ia throwing all of his pressure
on this meeting point, SO AS 10 force
q wedge between the two Italian
armies. What ~; success would mean
- FUZZY realized. should this wedge
come through ! ould not only scpa-
r",c the TWO italian armies. but would
require the consideration Of retreat
from the Rave River, az il would not
. be possible to maintain IL position on
the riayc with the left Hank thus
mcnaccd.
This explains the herceness OF Cen
cral Won krobaiins attack from the
north. as he is still stalking all on get
ting behind the Italian Piavc line. But
. ~! MS thpE - HtNf IipA SOtGCtNcu III
I shaking the main line.
General DiaZ was able 20 announce
the solidity of both main fronts, and
to give mcritcd tribute to his men.
While the situation is thus satisfac-
tory Il; ;cn@!sins the first ons!auGhis
there is no deluson tina, the enemy
/ viii abandon his design on progressing
on IA" Venetian plains. The lighting.
while desperate. has not yet developed
.hc = fi,1 nd 10 st
10 I've shown where he will strike his
greatest blow. But his first shock has
been mot and chccked.and the Italian
arms have gained new luster.
trusted man was sent by tho cor
respondent in an automobile to tho
lower riavc this morning to inspect
The inundated district. and he has re-
turned with details Of tho fearful scene
az dcso.atjon made by the release OF
tho food waters 10y the Italian cngi-
nc"rs to bar tho progress OF the enemy
What was smiling farmland ten
days aco. now is Transformed into a
Nas' sheet OF wafer. stretching for
miles. Above tho level OF tho water
roofs and Tho upper stories OF farm.
houses con b" seen here and there
Great Aocks OF seafowia have come ir
cries add to Tie wcirdness OF the
scene.
The extent % water interposcs ar
.inras sab" defense to any advance Of
tho enemy iu that quarter. and undc'
this sheet G. wnte- * soft mud. nov
soaked - ruicksand consistency
about six '"c' dcc0 making II impos
Smile Tor enemy artillery or horses I,
enter without sinking. THE hr*t enc
tnE party tia. got across has beer
iGfced back. and now is held at bay b,
Tie food