Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-12-07
FOES MOVES
REAL DANGER
FORITALIANS
Austro German Army in
Turning Tactics for
North.

ern Italy. Dec. 9.-baffie eonGi-
tions this morning were virtually |
unchanged. Much depends upon
the ability of the Italians to hold
the positions to which they have
retired. commanding the Brenta
valley.
Italian Headquarters in North
ern Italy, Thursday, Dee 6.-(By
the Associated Press.)-The big
operation which the enemy is al
tempting In the north Is virtually
repetition OF the turning move
ment he executed six weeks ago
in the great offensive about Co.
rigia.
At that time he broke through
the upper end of the line and thus
endangered the lower end. This
is exactly the situation which Is
being repeated today.
The Austro-German attack on Me
letta not only affects the lines in that
region. but If the enemy could pierce
through and drive his way southwark
onto the plains, it might place him on
! the left flank of the Piave lines, much
as the Duke of Aosta had his third
army at Gorilla with the enemy on
his left flank 1t is this quite as much
as the frontal attack that is receiving
consideration. The line east OF Asiago
probably is stronger today than before
the retirement yesterday. as 1t now a
| straight line. Formerly it was like a
long inverted letter Y with the ltal-
ians on the inside of the Z and the
enemy on the outside.
1t has been established that while
/ Field Marshal Conrad Won Hoetzen-
dorff is directing the movement Cen
eral won Krobatin's forces also are CO.
operating. In addition to the super
J fority in numbers, the Austro-Ger-
: mans are taking advantage OF The
/ backward season and are striking be
fore the mountain SHOWS impede opef'
ati0ns.
E The weather this year happens Il
: be favorable to the enemy. The snow
! is only a few inches deep, whereas il
December the snow usually reaches
e depth of from four to ten feet. On
I such snowfall now would be WORT
q divisions. Gray skies today indicates
9 snow but the fall was light.
t Austrian prisoners taken in the las
few DAYS say that the release of Rus
sian prisoners held in Austria bega
\ 10 DAYS ago. Austria took the initia
! tive in this without waiting for Rus
II STA to release Austrian prisoners. Fac
l. Russian prisoner was schooled care
| fully in Austria's desire to end tn
: war. and the whole body of these Rus
NnI
STA as a sort of a propaganda for tel
minating the struggle,
The splendid showing the Italian
made single-handed on the Asiae
nIateau is leading to the frequent n
mark that the Asiago plateau will
the Italian Verdun While the TIA
ians had fallen back as did the hero
defenders of Verdun. yet their ma
lines are intact and inspire conhdent
~ that the Italian will be able TO no
in Itbe invaders from reaching the TIA
II ian plains.
+ Vienna Tells Battle Story.
r Vienna, Thursday. Dee, ., VIA Lo
SIS don, Dec. 7.-(British Admiralty p
in Wireless Press. THE Austro-Hu
e. garian general headquarters today
C sued the following communication;
r. 'sThe enemy has suffered hea'
defeat. Early Tuesday after powerf
ce artillery preparation in which Z
nd German batteries cooperated with I
cir troons under Field Marshal Conra
nd we launched an attack against t
ey mountain positions in the Meletta re
of ion and having reached high eley
ton freely installed with defensi
al works the stubbornly conducted
an tense was broken. The deep snow a
rs, severe cold rendered progress dll
cult but the careful preparation
as-, tine attack and the bravery of the
sss tackers-natives from ali parts OF Al
he -Hungary-wer able TO overcol
.ge every counter measure.
Italians Were Cut on.
as During the morning hours yest'
vs. day the enemy after a bitter strugi
al lost Monte Bello and the rear Pc
The tions near Foza. At two in the aft
ger noon the brave Italian defenders "
the had been completely cut off for
zen hours on Monte Castelgomberto Il
di- down their arms. All the terri
, north of Frenzela raYine4is in
On hands.
ad- 4In addition to thor important 81
la culinary losses the Italians in tn
two DAYS lost more than 1900 pI
iim oners and over sixty guns. Our loss
ust due to the clever conduct of the fig
ro- ing operations were small.
OF Near Zenson where We have
ee- cupied the western bank OF the Pli
ly's for weeks past, Egerland infantry T
me iments successfully withstood stol
be ing attacks OF several hours durat
nan made by superior forces"
and Capture 1900 More.
ght Berlin. Dee Z, fvia Lnndon} IF
FER thousand more Italians have b
The eantured in the new Austre-GeTn
ows offensive on the northern front hri
are ing up the total TO 5000. accord
to today's official communication.