The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-11-24
ITALIANS RETAKE'
MONTE TOMBA and.
MONTE PERTICA|
FROM INVADERS
Battle Among the Noun
tains Still RACES With
Unexampled Violence
LOSSES HAVE
BEEN TERRIBLE
Dense Masses of Enemy In
fantry Hurled Against
Italian Lines

Italian Headquarters In Northern
Italy, Friday. Nov. 23.-(By The As
sociated Press. 1.-The battle of the
mountains is raging with unexampled
violence. The italians again hold the
Monte. Tomba and Monte Pertica
positions, which they lost last night.
The losses have been very great, but
the enemy's far exceed those of the
Italians.
on the outcome OF the mountain
battle depends the result Of the
enemy's greatest effort to break
through the Italian lines to the Vene-
tian plain. The recapture of the
Italian positions on Monte Tomba.
was accomplished by succession OF
brilliant charges which dyed the
SHOWS red and left the ground piled
with enemy dead. Monte Pertica,
was lost and won four times, the
enemy finally being thrown back.
Although the losses have been terri
BILE. those OF the enemy are by far
the greater owing to the condition of
the fighting field and the desperate
heroism of the italian troops.
The battle, which had been
gradually gathering force in the last
few days, broke in full fury early
yesterday and ragged throughout the
0Ata LAlC uABALt ana. lOueys IC lAASA
blow was struck at Monte Pertica,
where dense masses OF enemy infan-
try were hurled against the Italians.
The lighting was extremely violent.
The Chief Blow.
The enemy's greatest blow was
aimed at the strategic key OF Monte
Tomba and Monte Monfenera. Here
the full force of two divisions, one
German, the other Austrian. was
hurled in a furious attack on the
Italians right wing in an effort to
turn the wing and cut Off the army
from fits line Of communication along
the Piave. Now came one OF the
bloodiest struggles of the war, which
went on all last night and today
with a steady succession OF attack
and counter attack.
What the outcome Will be cannot
be foreseen but the Italian arms
have again covered themselves with
glory and have snatched back VIC
tory when il was hanging in the
balance Even the enemy yields
tribute TO Italian yalnr, for PRISON.
ers say their forces are surprised at
the resistance met and disconnected
by the impetuous bravery of the Ital-
ian troops.
a succession of attacks and ccun-
ter attacks followed rapidly through
out yesterday on the hills between
the Piave and Brenta valleys Brig |
ades and regiments, their numbers
in the struggle, were re-
formed and returned to the fight. |
In one section where there were
thirty officers, twenty-seven We're |
killed or wounded, but the remaining |
three fought the battle of the thirty. |
Mountain batteries had been Sc
Sye Ia nd
as the fight ebbed and flowed over
these positions the Italians not only /
brought back guns, but even the
wheels and the limbers, their pride
not permitting a vestige to fall into
the hands OF the enemy.
The Final Charge.
The final charge OF the day came
at 2 o'clock in the afternoon. The
had struck his greatest blow
earlier in the day and the fterceNat-
tack lasted three e-quarters of an
hour. The whole field was swept by
artillery fire and the ground was
strewn with dead. 1t was amid this
welter OF bodies and debris that the
Italian lines were reformed and from
It they moved forward steadily and
until the disputed ground
was retaken except at one point
where the struggle still goes on. In
The last desperate charge the officers
and men were eager to advance,
prefering death to being made pris-
Oners, The enemy losses must be
very heavy, but he is bringing for
ward a steady stream OF reserves.
The first army also is sustaining
l heavy fight west OF Brenta river,
where the enemy rush has been re-
pulsed by the splendid resistance OF
he Italians.
The Count of Turin, commander
of the Italian cavalry in the recent
retreat, has given out written re-
view Of the deeds performed by his
nen. Many instances OF individual
iaring are recorded.
A corporal OF the Florence lancers
vas ordered 70 explore q zone near
-ividale Going forward, he saw a
arge party of Italians held prisoner
~ the enemy. He returned and .
yathered a force OF cavalry which
.eleased the imprisoned party and
brought them back
In another case Piedmonteze cav
Try, after being surrounded, broke
through the enemy lines, but the
colonel in command failed to escape.
lie was the only man left inside the
,nemy circle and he was seen to
AXE his stand against a wall, prob
Ibly preferring death to being made
prisoner. X
The fate OF the Caserta cavalry, i
which dismounted and fought afoot,
md OF their fellow dragons, also
s recounted. making this recital one
Il the most stirring chapters Of the !
ecent operations.
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