The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1917-12-27
ITALIANS REGAIN
LOST POSITIONS
Desperate Battle RACES All Day
on Asiago Plateau.
FOES COLUMN is WIPED OUT
Teutons Defend Ground With Great
Stubbornness, Counterine Italian
MISUNDERSTANDING Re-
ports Capture Of 5000.

Rome, Dec. 26.-In desperate bat
tie which lasted all day, the Italians
fought their way back to the positions
from which they were forced the pre-
vious day on the Asiago plateau I'M
der Austro-German attack, according
to the war office statement.
Some guns and numerous machine
guns which had been abandoned by
the Italians in their retirement were
recaptured.
Fight Lasts All Day.
The statement reads:
con the Asiago plateau the battle
which continued fiercely and san
guInly diminished in intensity only at
nightfall.
"Our counter-attacks, made several
hours before dawn, succeeded. in spite
Of the difficult terrain and the very low
temperature, in arresting the enemy
and carrying the fighting on to the po-
sitions from which we had moved the
previous day.
"The enemy defended the ground
gained with great stubbornness. coun-
tering our counter-attacks and concen-
tratng in front Of his line formid-
able fire from numerous batteries.
"Desplte the vicssitudcs Of the
fierce struggle some batteries and
many machine guns which had been
left in the destroyed lines We're recov-
cred
Destroy Enemy Column.
"An enemy column advancing from
Bertico toward the heights to the
west Of Malaga Costalunga was de-
stroyed by our fire.
"A battalion succeeding in wrestling
from the enemy and holding for some
time the summit of Monte Val Bella,
while other detachments. having as
cendcd the slopes Of Col del Rosso,
engaged the enemy in heavy hand-to-
hand fighting.
During the action hundreds of our
guns Of al caliberS increasingly bonn
harGed the enemy troops. dispensing
concentrations behind the line and
stopping the advance of supports. We
took a number of prisoners"
Foe Claims 5000 captives.
Berlin Dec. 26--Italian counter-at-
tacks upon the positions taken in the
ustro-German attack of Sunday were
repulsed on Monday, as was nm Italian
drive at Monte Pertica, army head
quarters announced,
More than 5000 prisoners were
taken in the Col Del RoSSo fighting,
says the official statement.
First british Report Made.
London. Dec. 2G-The first state
ment by the British war office dealing
with the Italian front where British
troops row occupy a sector, was issued
here. The text reads:
"Sinca a portion Of the italian front
was taken over by British troops there
has becp no change in the situation on
the British front. There has been nc
five counter battery work and our air
men hayp given good account of
themselves. but have been hampered
by unfavorahle weather during the last
few days.
"Some snow has fallen and the cold
is severe, especially in the mountains.
The health and spirit of the troops are
excellent"
Claim Second Peak.
The Austrian official statement of
Monday as received here supplements
the German statement of that date re-
gardng the capture of Col Del Rosso
by reporting the capture also Of Monte
Val Bella. II also states likewise that
colonel and several Italian staff Of
ficers were captured.
| BARONESS SUES FOR DIVORCE