The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-11-23
Italians Inflict Heavy Cas-
ualties on Foe on
Brenta River.
DRIVE ENEMY BACK
AT BAYONE,T POINT
Romans, Imbued With New
Patriotism, Bear Suffer
ing Bravely.

Italian Headquarters in Northern
Italy, Wednesday, Nov. 21.--By the As
sociated Press.-An officer. accom-
panied by civilian observer, has Just
arrived here from the northern fight
ing front, where they have been
watching the operations Just to the
west of the point where the enemys
mass attacks were reaching their max
imum intensity today. The center OF
this section is along the Brcnta river
leading to the large city Of Rassano
and thence widening. fan shaped in
to the Venetian plains. The observers
were so close to the fighting line that.
their army automobiles narrowly es-
capped falling into the hands of the
enemy. ~J
Trenches Filled With Dead. 4!
The fighting ground gave dreadful
evidence OF the intensity OF the strug-
gle during the last few days. The po-
sitions and trenches lately occupied by
the Austrians were streWn with bodies.
which lay half covered with snow, as
it was impossible to bury the slain
because of the rapid shifting OF both
lines. The most desperate fighting
was around Monte Melleta. where the
Italians held one side of the eminence
and the Austro German forces the
other. The enemy's object WAS to ad-
vance through the two valleys OF
| Frenzela and Valstagna, which open
| directly into Bassano and the plains.
| The statement of this design is not
based on conjecture. but is disclosed
f,,11 .laxa t,,t la RIG n
of attack. taken from the bodies OF
| Austrian officers left on the field,
These plans give precise directions OF
| the hour and minute at which the ad-
/ vance along these two valleys to Bas-
sano shall be carried out as though
| the enemy believed no doubt existed
of his successful advance.
Drive Thorn With eayonets.
| But at this point the enemy calcula :
tions proved wide of their mark as the
Italians not only held the valley passes
to the plains. but drove the enemy
back at the point of the bayonet. first
from the trenches and then from the
improvised breastworks, until his re-
treat was marked by good swath of
dead and wounded.
| Ii SeeHeu us IL tie ltdlldilS "hle
suddenly imbued with ten-fold eonf
age To save their country. At one
point a contingent of 80 Italians lett
a shelter and hewed their way through
the lines, bringing back u prisoners.
Such instances were not isolated.
I Cold increases Hardship.
The whole range of this fighting
ground presented a scene of frigid des-
olation. showing the rigors OF the win
ter campaign now in full operation
Snow lay six inches deep along the
slope and drifted in places to depth
of five feet.
| The Italians are suffering great
hardships with fortitude in their bat
tie to keep back the invaders. The OBJ
servers found men huddled In eaverns
and caves from which hung huge ici-
lcles
Many were absolutely worn out by
their super efforts and slept on ths
j ground In blankets with Ice all about
them and drifted snow without,
Rations are served once daily, bul
with extreme difficulty in the mids
of such whrlwind of action.
But with all these rlgors and blood,
work, the morale and confidence u
the men is at top notch,
|