Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1917-11-21
ITALIAN LINES MAY YET HOLD.
Situation Grave, But Appearances In
dicate Stand. t1


Sile rivers, northeast of Venice, have
been opened by Italian engineers.
The action Of the Italians in opent
ing the flood gates probably means an
attempt to drown out the Austro-
German forces which crossed the
lower Piave several days ago at Girls
olera, about II miles northeast Of
Venice. The flooding Of the triangle
formed by the two rivers and the Ad-
riatic also probably would make in
effective any German attempt to
debouch in force against the right
flank Of the Italian army along the
Piave. South of San Donald Piave,
the Sile and Piave rivers are very.
close together and near here flood
gates were constructed to hold the
rivers in check SO as to protect the
Venetian lagoon. On both sides OF
this. triangle the land is at or below
sea level.
Fighting is Violent.
Rome, Nov. 18.-Further attempts
by the enemy to force crossings Of
the Piave river were frustrated by
the Italian troops yesterday, and in
a brilliant counter attack the Aus
tro-German forces which previously
had gained footing on the west
bank, in the Fagare zone, were COM
pletely swept out of this area, the
war office announced to-day.
The Austro-German forces, hem
med in at the Zenson loop, tried to
break out, but were repulsed with
heavy losses and ultimately driven
further back into the loop.
The Italian line on the Asiago pla-
teau is withstanding extremely yio-
lent attacks, the defensive units dis
playing brilliancy in their resistance
and in successful counter attacks.
", Recover Offensiye aPower.
h llaI lead dpar h haeh.
italy, Nov. 8.The battle Of ( the
Piaye river, as 1t will be known, now
has developed to stage where the
enemy's first attempts to make q
breach in the Italian lines have fail
ed. This defensive result has not
only been accomplished by the Ital-
ian army, but time has been secured
to effect that recovery from the re-
treat which viii permit the army to
resume its offensive power as we'll as
it's defensive.
The enemy was taking full advan-
tage of the delicate period after the
retreat, knowing that every day
counted for the restoration of the
solidity OF the Italian offensive force.
In this knowledge, too, the Italian
supreme command Is proceeding me-
thodically, giving ground here and
there, and holding elsewhere, as all
this Is part of systematic plan to
bring to the army offensive qualities
to deal blow at a chosen moment.
One hears talk in high quarters
to-day that If the Piave line holds
another few days the tide will be
turned, as its successful defense
through six fearful days has estab-
lished that the enemy has his iimita-
tions.
Thus far nothing beyond battal-
ions have crossed the river, and no
corps or brigade, much less divisions,
have passed the deadline. Only at
Ienson and Grisolera are there any
serious Judgments on the west bank
of the Piave, and to-day the enemy
was forced back to the river at Zen
son and elsewhere, with more than
thousand men captured, while the
flood waters bar him before Griso-
lera.
1t Is because the Piave has resist-N
ed so we'll that the enemy now Is
turning his attention to the north
and trying to make a breach there
which he failed to make on
the Piave. The line on the north
runs along Asiago, Cismon and Que
70, and there the Italian position re-
mains virtually unchanged. In the
east, where the mountain line joins
the Piave, the Italian position has
been moved a little farther back, not
IN giving ground, but to solidify the
whole northern front from Mont
Tondarecar, on the west, to the Piave,
on the east, thus consolidating the
defense at the center and on both Of
the wings.
This Is the situation tonight after
one Of the most trying weeks italy