New-York tribune., 1917-12-08
Teutons Win Mountain
Stronghold After Most
Desperate Struggle
Foe Driving for
Venetian Plain
Bersaglieri Brigade, by
Heroic Defence, Slaves
Off Disaster

LONDON, Dec. Continuing their
tremendous drive on the Asiago
Plateau. the Austro-Germans have
stormed Monte Sisemol, on which the
southern wing Of the old Italian line
was anchored, and captured 1000 more
prisoners, bringing thc!r total captures
for the three days o: the offensive TO
$4,000 men, according 70 the latest
statement Of the German War Office.
The struggle Is continuing without
interruption along the restricted noun
tain front in the Seven Communes,
Rome reports tonight, but Field
Marshal Conrad's troops are meeting
with furious resistance before the rev
Italian defensive line, based on Monte
Gallo and the formidable ridge eX-
tending from that point northward.
The battle for Monte Sisemol devel-
oped into one Of the most ferocious
combats of the whole offensive. The
1eutons at this point concentrated
their entire strength in one prodigious
effort to break the Italian lines and
smash through south of Gallo TO the
Venetian plain.
Violent artillery preparation pre-
ceded the main assault, which extended
from north Of Ronchi Valley to Monte
Kaberlaba, a distance or about four
miles. The main Italian forces, infan-
try and artillery, were in the act Of
withdrawing 20 their new line west of
the Meletta district when the blow fell.
Disaster appears to have been STAYED
of completely by the heroic defence
Of the Fourth Bersaglieri Brigade on
Monte Sisemol, on which the southern
wing of the original line was anchored.
For twelve hours these troops with
stood the prodigal onslaughts Of Con-
RAIDS forces, repelling six successive
blows with counter actions,' and fell
back only when the new line TO the
west had been made oecure.
An equally valiant defensive by the
Italian rearguard units to the north,
on Monte Castelgomberto, held off the
enemy on that section Of the old front
until the main army had withdrawn to
its prepared positions, when they were
surrounded and forced TO surrender.
The heroism of these soldiers drew
an unusual tribute from the foe, the
Austrian communique of yesterday
stating: "At 9 in the afternoon
"wednesday the brave Italian defend
ers, who had been completely cut off
for twenty-four hours on Monte Cas-
laid down their arms"
Vienna Tells of "Hesvy Defeat
The initial Italian reverse. which
caused them the loss of the territory
east of Asiago, is described by Vienna
as a "heavy defeat The Austro-Ger-
man operations, il develops. were car
ried out under great difficulties, deep
snow and severe cold rendering prog
ress extremely hazardous. The Aus
trian communique states that natives
from all parts of the Dual Monarchy
took part in the great attack. "Our
losses" it adds, "due to the clever con-
duct of the fighting operations, were
small"
Fighting again has broken out near
Zenson, where for several weeks the
Teutons have maintained their hold on
a restricted section Of the western
bank of the Piave. Vienna reports that
the Austrian units successfully with
stood storming attacks of several hours
duration, made by superior forces.
Since they established themselves at
this point. however, the Teutons have
been unable TO extend their gains on
the western bank, and their present po-
siton is precarious and of little danger
to the Italian line.