Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-11-27

Rome Nov. 27-An entire
division of the enemy made an
attack yesterday i'll the Brcnta
valley i'm an effort to break
through the Italian northern
front. To-day'S official statement
says these troops, which attack
ed in masscd formation, were
driven back.
Italian Army Headquarters in
Northern Italy, Monday, Nov. 26.-
(By the Associated Press During
n trip of one hundred miles to-day
through the fighting zone in the
north, the correspondent met the
major general in command of the
most exposed front between the
Brenta and PiaVe. rivers, where the
pressure has been greatest and the
losses heaviest and obtained from
him details of the situation. AS the
general spoke, u heavy cannonadtnS
resounded through his field head
quarters and he looked out upon II
great stretch of the Brenta valley
where the enemy is concentrating his
forces to break through to Bassano
and the Venetian plains.
Staff officers and orderlies We're
arriving with reports from all vital
points and hurrying off with orders
for the maneuVering of troops. 1t
was q striking scene but the general
paused long enough to give Good
general idea of the situation and de-
tails of the condition of the troops
and the splendid fight they are max
ing against heavy odds.
Attack Almost Continuous
The general estimated these odds
at four or five to one, based on re-
ports reaching him and which were
much heavier than heretofore
known. But even against such odds
his men were fighting with power
of resistance, courage and dash be-
yond all praise. Attacks were almost
continuous at one point or another,
but the Italians were always ready
to respond, and had not only re-
pulsed attacks, but driven the enemy
back after a series of heroic charges.
The general summed up the physi-
cal conditions of the battle-ground
which made the struggle particu-
larly trying on the troops. First, he
said, there was that terrible strain
of endurance and natural fatigue ac-
companying nights and days of
ceaseless fighting with the relentless
foe Then there was the extreme
cold with the temperature at nights
at about fourteen degrees above
zero Fahrenheit. The extreme cold
cause the men were without any
kind of shelter, everything having
been swept away in the terrific ar
tillery action and the constant shift
ing of position.
Water Lacking
There. were no trenches or dug
outs which ordinarily give some
shelter and there was no water from
unfailng sources such as the SOL
diers should have when going
through such an ordeal. They were
on the barren ground of foothills
covered with rocks and stones. The
ground was without habitation and
the slightest natural facilities usually
required by fighting troops.
After summing up the physical
hardships, the general added there
was the still more serious condition
of many commands being with very
few officers AS a result new men
were suddenly called upon to lead
large forces far beyond their expert
ence and subofficers as well as jun
ior officers were directing superior
commands in many instances.
The general said there have been
fearful losses among the troops,
which required n constant reform
ing of companies, regiments, bri-
gades and divisions. But all these
terrible conditions, the general said
the spirit of the men was unabated
in the determination to hold at any
cost.
The rumble of heavy artillery fire
continued throughout the generals
talk, while a dense mist over the
valley gave a faint outline of the ris-
ing hills where one attack was. fol-
Iouinp another in thsi fateful hattie