The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-11-26
Now Near Battle Line to Rein
force Heroic Romans.
On Forced March of s Days
When Seen by Correspondent.
SAW MILES OF SOLDIERS
includes Infantry, Cavalry, Ar
tilIery and Supply Trains.
Evidently to Battle Huns on
Extreme Left Wing of Front.

Italian Army Headquarters in
Northern Italy, Sunday Nov. 25.-
CBy the Associated Press. )-Solfd
ranks of Franco British infantry with
artillery and supply trains were seen
by the correspondent today within
sound of the battle of the Italian
northern line
They had been on an eight-day
march
In another zone sight which
stirred the blood was when solid
ranks of allied reinforcements crowd
ed the roads. Already they were wi h %
in sound Of the rumble of the guns
and the boom from the battle off in
the distances could be heard above
the gallop of the cavalry. the tramp
of the infantry and the ciamcr Of the
batteries and supply trains.
1t was a dark day, with a gray
sky, but the whole scene seemed to
tighten up as the color Of the Italian
gray was tinted everywhere with
British khaki and French blue They
had been on the march eight days.
making more than fifteen miles a day.
French Lines Miles Lo-
The French reinforcements were
first seen in force. They were splen-
did looking young men. One of their
officers, with whom the correspond
ent talked and who had stripes earned
by sallantry on his sleeve said thev
had Just arrived on a hard forced
march with others following
Soon these others came in view and
10. two miles the party passed thru
endless lines of French. There were
squadrons of cavalry in the road and
in the nearby fields, and long lines of
troops with artillery trains and sup
pl!es- Field kitchens had been set up
At one point and the midday meal
was being served. The men looked
in the best of condition and did not
show trace of fatigue from their
long march. Just beyond here the
color turned from blue to khaki as
long lines of the British came into
sieht- The lead We're cyclists and then
came engineer trains. Following were
long ranks of infantry, cavalry and
arulleiy At one point headquarters
had been temporarily established
along the road and guards were at the
gate as the Officers went and came.
turther on a British general and
MS staff. all finely mounted. were
cdntering forward.
The correspondent was on d tour of
the northern fighting front where the
gre#t battle is continuing with unex-
ampled violence. Major General -.
'94ti G4u was found Commanding the
tNtreme left of the fourth army ~
the point where the fighting was
heaviest. ThruOut yesterday and to
day the battle in the mountains hos
developed in a steady succession IF
heaVy attacks and counter attacks.
with occasional brief intervals for re
forming the lines and reorganIzinE
new positions. Twelve different enc
my assaults have been made within
rev hours preceding the correspond
ents visit to headquarters on the
Held, but the Italians lines had not
yielded foot of ground and General
III Giorgio, while grave because of The
terrific struggle his men We're rnak-
ing against tremendous odds. was
cain and confident that the defense
lire would hold until reinforcements
We're swung into the fighting
REFORM Shattered Rca cents.
staff officers from .uuarters
were taking the trip along the line
and he route lay straight north into
the fighting zone Soon there were
evidences of bitter struggle lust
ahead, for along the routc long lines
OF Italian regiments decimated in the
last few days, were reforming to re-
TN 20 The fighting They shovel
the fearful strain they had been un-
der, but there was no trace of waver-
ing and the long lines breathed a
spirit of eagerness.