Evening star., 1917-11-20
TEUTONS HURLED Z
AGAINST ITALIANS
MEET IRON VALID;
Invaders Thrown Back Four
Times in Mountain Re-
glons of North.
DESPERATE STRUGGLE
is STILL GOING ON
Austrians and Germans Are Trying
to Drive Wedge Between Asiago
and the River Piave.


Italian possession Of Venice and thl
security Of the Piave line depend ap<
parently on the outcome of the Desperate
battle now in progress between the
Piave and Brenta rivers. The Austro<
Germans are attacking heavily and are
advancing against the stout resistance
of the Italians.
If the invaders have captured MontA
Tomba, as claimed by Berlin, they araj
within few miles of the plains behind
the Piave. The Italians are defendS
ing each position, but the Germans have
advanced several miles here within the
past few days and seemingly are ats
tempting to drive a wedge between tho
Italians lin the region Of Asiago and
those along the Piave. Monte Tomba ID
on the western side of the Piave, six
miles northwest of Vidor.
Around Asiago the Italians have
checked the Germans and have been sue
cessful in offensive operations. Defeat-
ed in strong efforts to cross the Pave
between Vidor and the Adriatic sea, the
Austro- Germans have ceased their ate
tempts. The artillery fire along the
river, however, is very violent.
Struggle Still Continues. 1
By the Associated Press. y
ROME. November 2o.-The struggle
between the Austro-Germans and the
Italians on Monte Tomba and Monta
Monfenera, in the mountainous region
of northern Italy, continues, It was of
ficially announced today by the Italian
war department. The invading forces
were driven back four times when they
attempted to take the italian posiS
tions on the Monfenera-
The text OF the statement reads:
The struggle begun on the Mouta
Tomba-Monte MonfeneTa front Satur-
day night Is continuing dercely. Tbs
bardment of our positions on tho
Monte Monfenera spur to launch his
masses against them. Each time our
troops, with courage beyond all praise,
drove them back"
italian Repulse Claimed.
BERLIN. November 20. via London.-
Strong Italian counter attacks against
positions captured on the northern slope
of Monte Tomba on the mountain front
near the Upper Piave were unsuccess.
full, the war office announces. Heavy drs
ing continues in this sector. The text
of the statement reads:
italian front-Strong italian counter
attacks against the positions capturo6
by US on the northern slope of Monte
Tomba led yesterday to desperate fight
ing The fire of our artillery and ma.
chine guns thinned the ranks Of the
enemy. who stormed in close masses,
and our infantry drove him back into
his former positions Strong firing con>
tinues in this fighting sector. On the
lower Piave there was nothing new to
report.
Powerful Attack Proceeding. h
By the Associated Press
ITALIAN ARMY HEADQUARTERS
IN NORTHERN ITALY, November 10.
were virtually unchanged
on the fighting front early today. A
powerful attack is proceeding in ths
north between the Piave and Brenta
rivers. the enemy throwing heavy
masses into the line. The Italian ars
tiilery and infantry are holding to%'
naciously. There have been no furthe4
attempts to cross the Pfave.
The enemy is concentrating his ate
tack on the north, and very heavH
X
where large enemy masses are attack4
ing the Italian positions on Monte
Tenera and Monte Tomba-
Tours Battle Front. u
correspondent today made a tour
OF thirty miles along the Piave battle
front. Visiting Zenson, Fagare and the
Sega mill, where desperate fighting has
occurred. and saw the Duke of Aosta.
of the third army guarding
the Piave line, whose men hurled the
Austrians into the river and re-estab<@
ltshed the solidity of the Piave fronts
At the moment the duke was issuing
an address to his army. congratula ting
them on their glorious achievement.
An officer from general stan head<s
quarters accompanied the correspondent
ent and although the third army was
reached at an early hour, the duke was.
coming out to proceed along the front.
He held in his hand a war map, which
he consulted with his aids before givs
ing directions for the route to be trav<
eled.
1t was striking picture as the duke
stood there studying the map. He is
tall, of athletic build, with gray hair
and mustache and face bronzed by ex-
posure He wore the service uniform
of high command, with boots, spurs
and a great coat edged with black fur.
He acknowledged cordially the salutes
colonel of his staff explained conditions
along the line.
Army Thrown Back.
Everywhere, the colonel said, the enss
amy had been thrown back except at z
he brink of the river at Zenson. where
, few men were huddled in the bushes.
unable to go forward or backward. and
were being slowly cut to pieces. At
Tarare. Folina and the Sega mill the
ront of the enemy was complete, being
,ccomplished in fearful hand-to- hand
sehtine on Friday night and Saturday..
rhis confirmed previous information
and added permanency to the effects
,htained. The ofhcer procured a CODY
~ the dukes address to his men, 1t ia.s
IN inspiring document, breathing en-
and confidence. 1t says
Soldiers of the Third Army: The en-
INV has attempted to pass our deferses
IN the Piave. but his audacity has met
With defeat before your heroic lines
ind he is driven back. leaving In our
lands a great number of prisoners and
machine guns. My soldiers. your COM
nander greets you at the moment Of
his glorious exploit and conveys to
Iou the grateful acinoBiedgmGE r.