The Oskaloosa herald., 1917-12-27
SUPREME EFFORT
To CRUSH ITALY
AUsTRo.GERMANs GAIN LITTLE
IN FURIOUS ASSAULTS.
CREDIT is WITH DEFENDERS
Enemy Concentrates Batteries Upon
s Lines For Small Advance-AIlies
Determined To Hold Savage
Frontal Attacks of Invaders.

With the Italian Armies in the
Field, Dec. 26-Fierce fighting at
Mount Val Bella and Buzo was in pro-
gress again today. I'll
Despite the violent artillery & and
fighting of the Italian forceg in the
attacks against the enemy, & enemy
still held to the two-third Of mile
gain which was achieved onday.
The advance was madl possible by
an immense concentration of the enc
my's artillerying of all calibres which
smashed the Italian front line
Make Small Gains.
The Austrian forces also managed
to pinch off small salient of the Ital-
ian front in this region in their attack
which was at Mount Val Bella
On the next attack the enemy con-
solidated their positions.
Last Supreme Effort.
BY Henry Woods, United Press
Staff Correspondent, With the French
Armies in Italy, Dec 26-The Teuton-
ic forces are making their last SUI
preme effort to reach the Venetian
plains today before winter checks all
their operations.
Since Saturday the Austrians have
been battering against the Italian
lines.
And it is confidently expected that
tha Assault which took nIooa xrra.t -
the Bretna will shortly be followed
by new assault by Generals Krass
and Buelan east of the same river,
probably around Grappa, where Aus
tro-German forces have been making
fresh concentrations.
Battle Will Decide.
The battle as thus developing viii
decide whether the Italian forces viii
be able to maintain their positions
until spring. Snow and ice viii
probably stop the enemy in their adj
vance on through the mountain re-
gions AS yet there have been no
signs of heavy snow storm in the
mountains. Yet the passes have
been covered with snow and ice which
if it continues for a week or ten days
will be sufficient to check the enemy's
operations.
Already the snow has curtailed the
bringing up of foods and the enemy
has been forced to substitute for the
massed attacks, great drives OF spe-
cial troops who carry emergency ra-
tions.
These forces fight until they are re-
lieved by others like themselves who
carry food for four days service.
Italians Hold Thus Far.
The attack today is the eliminating
decisive stroke of the past two
months operations. The credit to
date is with the Italian forces.
Enemy prisoners unanimously de-
clare that the vigorous Italian resist
ance has already forced the Teutonic
staff to abandon their original plans
to establish a military and political
front from Triest to Venice.
Today they are contenting them
selves with the hope of reaching the
Venetian plains before defeat-and
by the defeat the necessity of the win
ter campaign in the ice and snow
covered SUBMITS of the Alps.
The Allies are determined that the
Austro-German forces in their adj
vance shall not be permitted to reach
the dominating SUBMITS of Asiago.
Regain Old Positions.
Rome, Dec. 26--In desperate bat
tie which lasted all day yesterday the
Italians fought their way back to the
positions from which they were forced
the previous day on the Asiago pla-
teau under Austro-German attack, ac-
cording to today's war office state
ment. Some guns and numerous ma
chane guns which had been abandon
ed by the Italians in their retirement
were recaptured when the old posi-
lions were re-occupied.
Germany Announces Success.
Berlin, Dec 26.--violent enemy
counter attacks in the neighborhood
I of Coldel and in neighboriag heights
broke down with heavy losses to the
enemy, the official German office state.
ment asserted in regard to the fight
ing along the Italian front
Italians Gain Ana Lose
4 Rome. Dec. 26-The recapture OF
some of the ground from the Teutonie
forces around Mont Val Bella. but
failed to hold their gains in the face
of the counter attacks of the enemy
was reported by the official statement
in commenting on the situation OF
1.-THE Italian front this evening.