The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-11-26
WAS A SLAUGHTER
Regiments DWindled as Field
Strewn With, Dead.
OF 30 OFFICERS All But Three
Killed or Wounded.
EHEMY'S LOSS IS GREATER
Italians Regain Mountain Posi-
tions Lost During Night.
Position Lost and Won Four
Times; Snow Red With Blood.

Italian Headquarters in Northern
Italy. Friday. Nov. 23--(By the As
ISOLATED Press-)-A succession Of at
lacks followed rapidly throughout
yesterday on the hills between the
Pave and Brenta valleys where the
Italians and Austro-Germans are en-
gagged in furious combat Brigades
and regiments. their numbers dEmin-
Ished in the struggle, were reformed
and returned to the fight. In one
section, where there were thirty Of
fIcers. twenty-Seven were killed or
wounded, out the remaining three
fought the battle of the thirty.
Mountain batteries had been secured
in mountain emplacements and as the
fight ebbed and flowed over these
positions the Italians not only brought
back the guns but even the wheels and
the imbers their pride not permitting
vestige to fall into the hands of
the enemy
Italians Charged Again.
The final 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 lasted three-quarters of an hour.
The whole field was swept by ar
tihery fire and the ground was strewn
with dead. 1t was amid this weIter of
were reformed and from it they NOV
ed forward steadily and irresistibly IN
til the disputed ground was retaken
except at one point where the strug-
gle still goes on. In this last desper-
ate charge the officers and men were
eager to advance, preferrtng death to
being made prisoners The enemy
losses must be heavy. but he is bring
ing forward a steady stream of re-
serves.
The first army also Is sustaining
a heavy fight west of the Brenta river
where the enemy rush mas been re-
pulsed by the splendid resistance OF
the Italians.
Now came one of the bloodiest
struggles of the war which went on
all last night and today with steady
succession of attack and counter at
tack.
What the outcome will be cannot be
foreseen but the italian arms have
again covered themselves with glory
and have snatched back victory when
it was hanging in the balance Even
the enemy yields tribute to italian
va1or for prisoners say their forces are
surprised at the resistance met and
disconnected by the impetuous brav-
cry of the Italian troops.
Fearful Loss of Life.
A high commanding officer on the
field has summarized the fury of the
present .DdLLAeS ny 0ECidIlLS lie CO01Q
not say whom to commend for brav-
cry. as the distinction would require a
medal for the entire force engaged A
distinctive ribbon for bravery. he said.
would stretch across the Italian front
The references in these dispatches to
the fearful havoc among regiments,
brigades and divisions should be in
terpreted with the knowledge that the
Italian unit of organization is of such
size that the reduction of an Italian
regiment to 500 or 400 men means
that upwards of 1000 have fallen
From an authoritative source this in
formation is given in regard to the
Italian units:
"A battalion is 1000 men in four
companies. A regiment is 5000 men
OF three battalions. A brigade is s, 900
men of two regiments. A division is
corps is two OF three divisions 1t is
this regimental formation of 5000
men which makes it appalling fight
ing when only 800 or 400 remain
Is Enemy's Prime Effort.
The Battle Of the Mountains is rag
ing with ynexampled violence. The
Italians again hold the Monte Tomhd
they lost last night The losses have
been very great but the enemy's far
exceed those OF the Italians.
Or the outcome of the mountain
battle depends the result of the enc
my's greatest effort to break thru
the Italian lines to the Venetian plain.
The recapture of the Italian positions
on Monte Tomba was accomplished by
a 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
Altho the losses have been terrible
those of the enemy are by far the
greater owing to the condition Of the
fighting field and the desperate hero
ism of the Italian troops
Battle Ragged All Day.
The battle which had been gradual
ly gathering force in the last few
days broke in f I'll fury early yester-
day and ragged thruout the day the
night and today. The first blow was
struck at Monte Pertfca where dense
masses Of enemy infantry were hurled
against the Italians. The fighting was
extremely violent. Pertica was lost
then rets ken Then lost again and
then retaken in such a whirIwind of
enthusiasm as seldom has been seen
before. But the enemy-s greatest blow
was aimed at the strategic key of
Monte Tomba and Monte Monfensra
Here the full force of two divisions
one German. the other Austrian was
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