Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-12-11
GERMAN PLANS IN
ITALY REPETITION
OF PREVIOUS ONES
Enemy Is Favored by an Un-
usually Light SnowfaII-AuS-
tria Began Releasing Rus
sian Prisoners 10 Days Ago

ALLAN HEADQUARTERS IN
/ NORTHERN ITALY, Thursday, Dec. 6.
JBy the Associated Press. 1.-The big
operation which the enemy is attempt
ing in the north is virtually a repeti-
ton of the turning movement he ex-
ecuted six weeks ago in the great Of
fensive above Gorilla. At that time
he broke through the upper end of the
line and thus endangered the lower
end This is exactly the situation
that is being repeated today.
The Austro-German attack on Melet-
Ia not only affects the lines in that re-
giOn, but if the enemy could pierce
through and drive his way southwark
onto the plains it might place him on
the left flank of the Piave lines much
as the Duke of Aosts has his third
army at Gorilla with the enemy on his
left flank.
II is this quite as much as the front
al attack that is receiving considera-
ton. The line east of Asiago probably
is stronger today than before the re-
tirement yesterday, as il is. now
straight line. Formerly il was like a
long inverted letter L with the Italians
on the inside of the L and the enemy
on the outside.
1t has been established that while
Field Marshal Conrad Won Hetzendorf
is directing the movement. General Won
Krobatin's forces also are cooperating.
In addition to the superiority in num-
bers. the Austro-Germans are taking
advantage of the backward season and
are striking before the mountain SHOWS
impede operations. The weather this
year happens to be favorable TO the
enemy The snow is only a few inches
deep, whereas in December the snow
usually reaches a depth of from four to
ten feet One such snowfall now would
be worth divisions. Gray skies today
indicated snow. but the fall was light.
Austrian prisoners taken in the last
few days say that the release of Rus
sian prisoners held in Austria began
ten days ago. Austria took the initia-
tive in this, without waiting for Rus
STA to release Austrian prisoners. Each
Russian prisoner vas schooled care
fully in Austria's desire to end the war
and the whole body of these Russian
prisoners was returned to Russia as
sCrt of. propaganda for terminating the
struggle.
The splendid showing the Italians
made singlehanded on the Asiago pla-
teau is leading TO the frequent remark
Italian Verdun.S While the Italians had
fallen back as did the heroic defenders
OF Nerdun. yet their main lines are in
tact and inspire confidence that the
Italians will be able to hold the invad-
ers from reaching the Italian plains.
The Importance of the fighting around
AsiagO is not underestimated, but it is
believed the line of resistance on which
the Italians have retired is capable of
=, .h To.
leading into the Brenta valley and the
open plain some miles below. The fight
ing has been of the most desperate
character and while the enemy has paid
dearly for his success the Italian losses
also have been very heavy.
An eye witness from the scene of
operations gave the correspondent de-
tails of the extent and bloody nature
OF the carnage. Enemy reserves were
poured in until the Italians were far
outnumbered. They continued to strug-
gle desperately. however, aand In one
case small detachment Of Bersaglieri
metSthe shock of an entire Austrian
regiment Austrian Kaiserjaegers dis
played unprecedented ferocity. using
stilletos as well as bayonets in hand-to-
hand fighting.
But the greatest single instance OF
neroism and loss was in the case of
several ueLdCHHltUIS OF Alplnls WnlCn
held Monte Castelgomberto against
overwhelming odds until surrounded
completely. Thus encircled, they made
repeated charges but the heavy sur
rounding lines held and the entire party
was. still on the mountain when the
remainder of the italian line fell
back. In another case one brigade Of
Bersaglieri' lost a great number of Of
flcers. and men In the same proportion.
The extent of the enemy reserves is
shown by their concentration i'm the
average amount of division for every
kilOmeter. These divisions have been
identified as the Sixth, Nineteenth,
Twenty-first. Forty-ffth and Fffty-sec-
Ond. i'm addition to others not identified,
and number of German battalions.
The artillery fire also has been the
heaviest since the new Italian line was
formed.
Conditions this morning were virtually
unchanged. Much depends on the ability
of the Italians to hold the passes to
which they have now retired command
ing the Brenta valley and the plains.