New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-11-22
IMPENDING BATTLE
Will Be GREATEST
ON ITALIAN FRONT
Picked Troops, Including Famous
Regiments Of the PruSSian
: Guard, Brought Up
AMERICAN AMBULANCES
ALONG PIAVE RIVER

AAVNV In ~ III LII
Austro- German Forces Preparing for
Great Mass Attack During the Pres
ent Fighting Which Has Been Going
on for Days-Bayoncts From Sock
cts Used AS knives.
Italian Army Headquarters, We'd
nesday Nov. 21.-(By the Associated
Press. 1.-The greatest mass attack
which the enemy has made is in pro-
gress along the upper Piave river at
inc point where it bends to the north
cast into the Belluno Alps AS the
action proceeds the enemy is bring
Ing forward fresh masses of his re-
serves, including picked troops Of the
Prussian Guard, besides some of the
best German troops drawn from the
western and Russian front. He also
has 10000 mountaineers from lower
Hungary, troops which are noted for
their brutal vandalism
The action through today has
shifted westward from Monte Tomba
and Monte Monfenera to the slopes
Of Monte Pertica, where the enemy
rUshcS have been checked.
number Of American Red Cross
ambulances passed through headquar-
ters today toward the Piave front
The men and cars appeared to be in
good condition.
The action GIBBS and flows around
the slopes of three low mountains Just
west of the rivers Monte Tomba, Mon
te Monfenera and Monte Cornella
Monte Monfenera is just one the edge
of the river. and it is here that some
of the most desperate fighting has
occurred. 1t is the key to the sit
uation, as at that point the river turns
into the Venetian plains, and the
whole battle hinges on control of
the river passage leading to the plains.
The first assaults began five days
ago, when Won Bellows Germans on
the lower Piave were swung north
ward for this supreme blow. The at
tacks have intensified steadily each
day until yesterday and today, when
they reached the maximum.
Beginning with artillery preparation
the Austro- German infantry advances
came In successive waves, first at the
northern most mountain, Cornella,
where the Como brigade of Italians
held the line until crowded back by
greatly superior numbe The enemy
then took positions back of the town
of Quero and violent artillery and
infantry attacks were centered on
Monfenera and Tomba.
Fighting in Mountains.
Much Of the fighting in the noun
tains was at close quarters, with
bayonet charges and desperate hand
Ito hand struggles along an extended
front. Through Monday, yesterday
, and today charge followed attack. In
some of the bloodiest fighting ground
has changed hands three or four
times.
At the little village of Naranzine,
on the slopes Of Monte Monfenera, the
enemy first gained 1odgment and
sought to surround the large italian
force but was thrown back by a
> splendid rally Of the Italian lines
switch swept forward with cheer:
until the position was clear. 1t was
the bloodiest kind Of fighting, with
hayonets first and then with bayonets
wrenche from their sockets and usec
us double edged knives.
Again the enemy massed forces
higher up on, Monte ,Monfenera
backed by batteries concentrated
/ from oil points. Before this intense
she'll fire the Italian infantry gave
ground slowly until the upper slope:
were abandoned. But the fighting
goes on with unabated desperation
and 1t Is still too soon to say wha'
The outcome may be of the heavtes
blow to break through to the western
Venetian plains.
( The conduct of the Italian troops
rs above all praise. They are con
testing every foot of the way, fight
ing like tigers and with spirit ant
confidence, even in the face of great
ly superior numbers.
The Mountainous Region.
The battle in the mountainous re
sion in the north between the Piav'
and Brenta rivers Is nearing It's cul
mination. It centers at Monte Grapha
and has become a struggle of giants
It is now clear that, notWithstand
ing the great numbers Of troops EN-
ployed by the enemy and his advant
ages Of terrain, he Is able to advance
only very slowly now that he is no
being assisted by the element Of sur
prise, by treason and other circum
stances which favored him at first
y Even if the italians should be Obliged
to abandon the Piave river line the
may be expected to fall back NOR
slowly and offer still more tenaciou
opposition
Rome Statement.
Rome Nov 22-The AuStrO-Ge