Arizona republican., 1917-12-24
REPORT IS LU IL ! N FIGHTING
lRepub.lean A ?. Leased Wlrel

tonic allies and the Russians have be- gun at Brest-Litovsk and apparently the enemy has played d trump card at the outset, for Gn the proposal of Prince Leopold of Bavaria the Ger man commanders -chief on tho Rus sian front Dr. von Kuehlmann, the German foreign secretary and an nstute politician. has been chosen unanimously as official chairman.
 An outstanding fact is that Ruma- mia is not credited with having sent delegates to Brest-Litovsk. The pos sibility is, therefore, that Rumsiit has decided to hold aloof from dis cussing a separate peace, uotwith- standing the fact that geographically she will be completely isolated from her allies should the negotiations re- suit in Russia quitting the war.
 On the fighting fronts. even in Italy, the activity of the troops is be- low normal In France and Belgium the fighting that is in progress is more in the nature of outpost en- counters and bombardments while on thf northern Italian front the enemy has lost the initiative, which is en- tirely in the hands of General DiaZ's men.
 The situation on the Italian front is not expected long to remain as it is, however, for the Austro-Gcrmans are constantly bringing mp heavy rein forcements and a return to their of fcnsive, which has in view the gain ing of the Venetian plain, is tO be cN- pcCtcd The enemy is faced by a hard task tO accomplish his aims, for it is different army that he must meet than that which rctreated from the lsonZo.
 Tn Argentina demonstrations in favor of the South American republic entering the war against the TeutoniC allies continue as a result of the latest exposures of German intrigue in dis patches sent by Count von LuXburg, he former German minister, to the foreign office in Berlin. Extreme bit terness is being evinced by tie popu- lace against Germany.
 Saturday nights raid by German aircraft over the English east coast was without result so far as casual ties or material damage are con- ,orsed Ono of the German machines was brought down during the raid.
 Teutons Reconcentrsting
 WITH THE FRENCH ARMIES IN NORTHERN ITALY. Saturday. Dec 22.-CBy the Associated Press. ).-Un- expectedly baked in their march to- ward the plain by the loss of tho Monte Asolone positions within "A hours after they had captured them the Austro-G German forces are con centrating heavily, according to all available reports, north and north east of this important approach tC dominating Monte Grappa. A new and unprecedentedly vigorous on- slaught on the barriers to the plains ts expected soon.
 Even a cursory visit to the Grappa sector is sufficient to reveal conyinc- ingly how formidably the Italian DO sitions are backed up by rejuvcnat ed army thoroughly reorganized an' re-equipped and whose spirit wa' shown by the counter attack Whici recaptured the great Asolone posi- tions Immediately after the regain ing of the Asolone heights, the core spondent found it possible to proceed to vantage point slightly south an' west of Grappa and almost due soutl of Asolone, which, at the time, wa being ViciOusly bOmbarded wit shrapnel by the enemy who had los it a few hours before Had the enem been able to hold it and captur Monte Coston between it and Mont Grappa. which latter is the enemy objective as the completely dominat ing position of the entire range, thi key position would have been seri ously menaced.
 Their rebuff at this important poin however, keeps the Austro-G -Germa forces not only at a considerable dis tance from the plain they are seeking but makes their progress .oward
 extremely difficult now that tt weather conditions, unfavorable fC several days, are rapidly increasln in severity. While German shrapn was viciously peppering the lost AsC lene heights. countless light an heavy Italian batteries, honeycombir and dotting the two adjoining mour tains. were hammering the enemy UT ceasingly Every path in the mour tainsde disgorged troops workir under the so-called rotation syste by which the men in the first line after serving there for some day
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