Evening star., 1917-11-28
Terrible Losses Are Wearing
Down Invading Armies,
Though Rushes Continue.
ONE DIVISION ATTACKS
VAINLY FIVE TIMES
Gen, Garibaldi Now Confident That
Defending Forces Will Hold
Their Present Line.

Undismayed apparently by the losses
sustained in their fruitless efforts of the
past two weeks to break the Italian
line between the Brenta and the Piave
valleys, the Austro- Germans continue to
hurl fresh troops against the defenders
Of the passes to the Venetian plains.
One of the latest attempts was against
the left wing along the Brenta valley.
An entire division was used in an at
tempt to break the italian defenses. 1t
attacked five times in massed formation,
but was unable to break the defense of
the Italians.
Latest Report of Fighting.
By the Associated Press.
ROME. November 2S-"On the Asiago
plateau, in the Primolano basin, at the
north of Col Della Berretta and on the
middle Piave," says today's Italian Of
ficial statement, "our batteries in CO.
operation with bombardment flights
have carried out concentrations OF fire
on enemy troops massed and in move
ment"
Can Hold Line, Is Claim.
By the Associated Press.
ITALIAN ARMY HEADQUARTERS
IN NORTHERN ITALY, Tuesday. No
yenlber GA visit made today to the
fighting ground at Monte Tomba,
Monte Monfenera and other mountains
in the fighting zone in the north, and
then to the Piave line where 1t Joins
the mountain front. afforded oppor-
tunity to see this central point Of the
present huge struggle and obtain from
officers at several divisional and bri-
gade headquarters direct inform2tion
in regard to the condition of affairs
The itour was made with a stan Officer
from headquarters. and covered abou,
1e8s smilsa with stops at the main points
Of fighting.
nous Alpine brigade, declared the
fiehting had shown that the italian
troops could hold the line beyond any
question. Speaking of the spirit OF his
HIf the enemy ever does get past, ow-
ing to superior generalship or superior
strength of guns, it will be only over
the dead bodies of our troops. for they
are determined never to yield"
Masses of Troops Brought Up.
The roads leading to the battle front
showed increasing masses of troops be-
ing brought up for concentration on the
threatened lines. Much artillery was
coming in. The men and horses seemed
to be in good condition after the hard
drive Miles of infantry moved for
ward, the ranks showing fresh and
youthful troops. They wore steel he'll
NETS and were getting ready to go into
action. Many had little pink boxes in
their hands, which looked like pack
ages of candy, but when they were
opened it was not candy which was
seen, but long, thin bullets, which fit
into the Italian rifles.
Every cartridge belt was full of
these pink boxes Passing headquar-
ters of the 4th Army, which holds the
vital line between the Brenta and Piave
rivers, staff officer of Gen. Robilant,
commander of this army. summed up
the general situation as satisfactory"
the reports showing that the enemy
was being held.
While the pressure of the Austro-
German forces is still impetuous, at the
same time they seem to have been
worn down by heavy losses and the un
expected strength of the resistance
they have encountered. This staff Of
1eer estimated the enemy losses as
fully two or three times those of the
Italians. as the defensive lines always
have afforded greater shelter.