Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-12-12
u. S, shot IS
FIRED; AIMED
ALONG pave
Austro German Attack Has
Started Again Italians
Report,

Rome, Dec. l2.-The enemy has
resumed the attack. T0day's or
fetal statement says that the ltal-
ians resisted stubb0rnly yesterday
throughout the day and that
icw positions which were aban-
doncd in the beginning Of the
lighting were reCccupied in near
/, all eases. In the evening the
enemy was reduced to the normal
artillery lire.
Italian Army Headquarters In
Northern Italy, Tuesday, Dec. H.
lBy The Associated Press The
first American shot against AUS
iria WIS fired by Representative
finkham OF Boston ON the lower
Pave when Mr.. Tinkham pulled
string firing large ll9 mlllimetre
gun and sending a she'll hurting
across the Pave to the Austrian
position at GOril0.
s huge cloud OF black smoke
marked the place where the shell
burst. The Italian batterymen
gathered around the gun and
raised Il cheer as the American
congressman fired.
Representative Tinkham fred the
shot by invitation OF the colonel in
command near poua al Pave. The
shell was sent ON its journey during a
heavy artillery fire along the Piave
and The northern front. The bonn
bardment was especially concentrated
back of Mount Grappa between the
piaye and Brenta rivers This may
be an indication of another drive on
the Italian lines from that direction.
Would &c shotIf Caught.
Washington. Dec Congressman
Tinkham. by firing an Italian gun at
the Austrian positions has taken on
the status Of a nun-cOmbatant attack
ing troops, and according TO the rules
of WAT laid himself liable 70 execution
by the Austrians should he by any
chance fall into their hands. Under
the law Of war, a civilian may neyel
engage in hostilities.
The fact that war has been declared
does not alter the situation, and an!
American engaging in hostilities, re
CARELESS of his position in civil lie, il
regarded as a "franc-tireur."
Official Berlin Report.
Berlin. Dec. 70, (yia London -Loca
engagements have occurred on tn
mountain front in northern Italy, be
tween the Brenta and the Piave, arm,
headquarters announced today.
Prisoners were taken by the Austro
Germans i'm this fighting.
Aircraft losses by the entente al
lies In the month of November totale
% captive balloons aud 205 airplanes
the German general STAFF announce
today The German losses in aeria
battles. the statement adds, were 8
airplanes and two captive balloons.
French Welcome Snow.
With the French Armies In Ital.
Tuesday, Dec. 1t By The Associate
Press Snow which has been eager
ly awaited and loGe DELAYED hega0 :
fall this morning in the mountain dis
irlet where tue austlu-tsy. mat a.. Az.
are striving to break through. Tn
beginning Of the snowfall adds to th
optimism of those who have been cor
hdent that the drive would be checke
within its present limits.
Paris Dec. Northwest {
Rheims. several enemy attempts upo
our small posts were repulsed by on
IRE says Joday's war Office announct
meut There was somewhat liyel
artillery activity on both banks of tt
Meusc JNerdun ragion). North {
liill 34i an enemy raiding party wa
driven off The night was calm ever!
where else"
English RepuISc Enemy.
London. Dec. IA local attack |
The enemy yesterday afternoon again
our positions north OF La Vacquer
lCambrai 'front.' was repulsed," sal
Today official communication. "N
carried out a successful raid last nigl
10 the vicinity OF Pontruet, north
NJ Quentin in which We captured pri
oners aud a machine gun"
Rush Troops From Russia.
Washington. Dec. 12.-Reinfore
ments from the Russian front for ii
Ausiro-German invaders OF Italy a
sun arriving, an official dispatch fro
Rome today announced. The Germs
Plan OF action. however has su
ieredg much delay in its deyelopmer
information from Austrian sources r
'ealing that it had been planned
reach BassanO IL days ago.
-Four Austro-German divisions we
put out Of action in recent operation
between the Brenta and Piaye rivers
Italian aviators report the Austr
Germans massing large forces ne
fo1a and the enemy feverishly co
structing defensive works befo
Monte Grappa.
Many Actions in Aair.
London, Dec l2.-There was gre
activity in the air on Monday, espt
iaily in the Cambria region. accordi
10 the official statement on aerial Q
erations issued last midnight.
british airplanes dropped bombs
enemy villages and the Germa
Dom hqd chs Itrgttch