The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-12-26
LATINS WIN IN
DESPERATE FIGHT
Italians Recapture Lost Positions
From Teutons in All
Day Battle.
ENEMY COLUMN IS DESTROYED
Statement by British War Office Say(
Situation Remains Unohan0ed-
Berlin Claims Capture q
5000 PrisonerA

Rome, Dec. 26.-In a desperate b9e.
tie which lasted all day, the Italians
fought their way back to the positions
from which they were forced the pre-.
vious day on the Asiago plateau unr
der Austro-G German attack, according
to the war Office statement.
Some guns and numerous machine
guns which had been abandoned b.
the Italians in their retirement Ynen
recaptured.
Fight Lasts All Day
The statement reads:
"On the Asiago plateau the battle
which continued fiercely and SAN
guinly diminished in intensity only at
nightfall
Our counter-attacks, made several
hours before dawn, succeeded, in spite
of the difficult terrain and the very low
temperature, in arresting the enemy
and carrying the fighting on to the po-
sltionS from which we had moved the
previous day.
1.-THE enemy defended the ground
gained with great stubbornness. coun-
tering our counter-attacksa and concen-
tratfng in front of his line a formid-
able fire from numerous batteries
Despite the vicissitudes of the
fierce struggle some batteries and
many machine guns which had been
left in the destroyed lines were recov-
cred.
Destroy Enemy Column.
"An enemy column advancing from
Bertico toward the heights to the
west of Malga Costalunga was de-
stroyed by our fire.
"a battalion succeeding in wrestling
from the enemy and holding for some
time the summit of Monte Val Bella,
while other detachments. having as
cended the slopes of Col del Rosso,
engaged the enemy in heavy hand-to-
hand fighting.
During the action hundreds of our
guns of all calibers increasingly bonn
barded the enemy troops, dispensing
concentrations behind the line and
stopping the advance of supports. We
took number Of prisoners"
Foe Claims 5000 captives.
Berlin, Dec 26-Italian counter-at-
tacks upon the positions taken in the
Austro-German attack of Sunday were
repulsed on Monday, as was an italian
drive at Monte Pertica, army head
quarters announced.
More than 5000 prisoners were
taken in the Col Del Rosso fighting,
says the official statement
First British Report Made
London, Dec. 26.-The first state
ment by the British war office dealing
with the Italian front, where British
troops now occupy a sector, was issued
here. The text reads:
"Since a portion of the Italian front
was taken over by British troops there
has been no change in the situation on
the British front. There has been ac-
tive cOunter-battery work and our air
men have given good account of
themselves, but have been hampered
by unfavorable weather during the last
few days.
"Some snow has fallen and the cold
Is severe, especially in the mountains.
The health and spirit of the troops are
excellent"
Claim Second Peak.
The Austrian official statement of
Monday as received here supplements
the German statement Of that date re-
garding the capture of Col Del Rosso
by reporting the capture also of Monte
Val Bella. 1t also states likewise that
colonel and several Italian staff of
GnnrC rarn oanf11rpd