Rock Island Argus., 1917-11-24
(DEAD STREW
I HILLS; HUNS
I HELD At BAY
Italians Again Hold Monte
Tomba After Losing
Position.

Rome, Nov. q. - Powerful
thrusts which were carried out
Yesterday by the Austr0-GeTmans
after heavy artillery preparation
on the italian mountain front from
the isiaEo plateau to the Brenta
river an failed, the Italian war
Office announced today.
Italian Headquarters in North
eru Italy, Friday, Nov. %, (By
the Associated Press).-The bat
ne of The mountains Is raging
with meXampled violence.
Tho Italians again hold the
Monte T0mba and Monte Pcrsica
posi ions, which they lost last
night,
Tho losses have been very great,
hut the cnemy's far exceed those
Of the Italians.
a succession Of attacks and counter
attacks followed rapidly throughout
Yesterday on the hills between the
pIays and Bren,a valleys, where the
Italians and Auslro-Germans are en-
gagged in furious combat. Brigades
and regiments, their numbers dimin-
shod iu the struggle. were reformed
and returned t.. the fight In one
section whore there were 30 officers
% were killed or wounded, but the
remaining three fought the battle OF
the so.
Mountain batteries had been Sc
cured in mountain emplacemeuts. and
as the fight ebbed and flowed over
these positions the Italians not only
brought bacl, the guns, but even the
wheels and the limbers, their pride
not permitting a yestige to fail into
The hands Of the enemy
Final Charge Comes.
The Gual charge Of the day came
at o'clock in the afternoon The
enemy had struck his greatest blow
earlier in the day and the fierce at
tack llsted three quarters Of an hour.
The whole field was swept by artillery
fire anl the ground was strewn with
dead IT was amid this welteT of bod
les llat the Italian lines were re-
formed and from il they moved stead
ily and irresstibly forward until the
disputed ground was retaken except
al one point where the struggle still
goes on IN this last desperate charge
the officers and men were eager to
advance. prererring death to being
made prisoners. The enemy losses
must be very heavy, but he is bring
ing forward a steady stream of re
serves
The first army also is sustaining a
heavy fight west of Brenta river
where the enemy rush has been re-
pulsed 0y the splendid resistance OF
The Italians.
The count of Turin. commander Of
The Italian cavalry in the recent re-
treat, has given out a written review
Of the deeds performed by his men.
Many instances Of individual dar
INK are recorded
Heroic Work of Rescue.
a corporal Of the Florence lancer.
was ordered 10 explore a zone neal
Ciyidale Going forward, he saw
large party of Italians held prisone'
By the enemy He returned and gath
cred force OF cavalry which released
the imprisoned party and brough
them hac. In another case Piedmon
ieCe cavalry. after being surrounded
, broke through the enemy lines. bu
y'he colonel commanding failed to es
cape Tie was the only man left in
side the enemy circle and be was seei
To take his stand against a wall, prob
ably preierriug death to being made
kprsoHer.
The fate OF the Caserta cavalry
which d.smounted and fought atool
and of heir fellow dragons also
recouu.eI making this recital one O
lhe most stirring chapters OF the re
cent operations.
\ On the outcome of the mountain bat
ua depends the result of the enemy
Greatest effort TO break through IN
italian lines to the Venetian plan. IN
recapture OF the Italian positions O
Monte Tomba was accomplished bv
succession Of brilliant changes wl.rC
ayed the SHOWS red and left tn
Hound piled with enemy dead. Mont
fertica was lost and won four times
he enemy finally being thrown baci
Although the losses have been ter
sible those Of the enemy are by ia
!ae greater, owing to the condition
,ae lighting field and the desperat
Aefoism OF the Italian troops.
Battle Starts Early.
The battle, which had been grat
Qal!y gathering force in the last fe'
Vays, broke in full fury early yestel
uay and ragged throughout the day, th
hight and today. The first blow wa
struck at Monte pertica, where dens
masses of enemy infantry We're hurle
against the Italians. The fighting Wa
extremely violent. Pertica was los
men retaken. then lost again and the
+ ietaken again in such a whirlwind
ehthusiasm as seldom has been see
before.
But the enemy's greatest blow va