The Washington times., 1917-12-04
GERMANS MEET
SECOND VERDUN
At MONTE GRAPPA

WITH THE FRENCH ARMIES IN
ITHLY. Dec. 4.-Italy began the
70 TIL week OF her heroic defense Of
Monte Grappa today
The height has been a second Yer
du- for Germany.
"hree weeks constantly renewed
al, Ecks by the Austro-Germsns have
fs;sd to gain. Today the enemy, his
Na-- forces reorCauizing. readjUsting
rli ne his shattered forces, perhaps
fcr another blow.
Vt Verdun French soldiers coined
the immortal phrase, Ills ne passe-
Ticnt pas" ("They shall not pass"D.
ThJy backed the slogan with heroic
deeds. The crown prince did not
pS-S.
It Monte Grappa, Italy's soldiers
tork up that phrase. They shall not
ia s. Today they, too. have en-
shifned it on Italy's record Of the
war.
The enemy is beaten at Monte
Cirappa.
Halt Is Fatal.
-Ie may attack again after today's
InL- But the temporary suspension
ct his plan to crash through has been
fatal to his campaign From now on
wherever he may seek to strike. he
viii md every strategic point on the
Pave front held down not only by
I;lIy's heroic fighters. but by French
ard British veterans.
The Austro-German assault at
Constituted thu Teu-
TONS third effort to turn the Italian
-NRnlss on the Piave front. The FIRST
" as when the Austrians launched the
attack on the lower Piave against the
I. allan right wing. The result was
the Italians wiped out an entire Teu- 4
tonic army which crossed the river. !
Immediately Generals KGnrad's and 4,
i robutin's armies attacked on the left
allan wing. They burst out over
me Asiago plateau. There they were
kewise checked.
The Third Blow.
Then came the third blow, between
the Piave and Brenta rivers. The
enemy concentrated for this supreme
cfort not only Konrad's and Krobut-
las armies. but divisions from the |
armies Of both Krauss and Below.
In the center of this third ground
lay Krappa-a mountainous crest, the
southern slopes Of which descend
abruptly to the Venetian plains The
mountain was the last barrier be-
tween the enemy and turning OF the
Italian left wing. A victory for the
Toe here would have meant retreat
TO the Adige-opening TO German
spoliation of the Venetian plains with
the rich cities of Venice, Padua, Vi
cenZa, Treyizo.
Grappa's Importance thus equaled
that Of Verdun. Carrying out the
parallel. Nits. Pertica, Solarola, Spi-
noncia, PaIIone, Monferens, and
Tomba constituted the advanced de-
lenses Of the mountain-just as Forts
Douamont, Vaux, Thiaumont, Froid de
Terre, and others OF Nerdun's ad-
yanced defenses constituted the outer
chain of the French citadel.
Launched Cream Of Fighters.
Against Grappa's outer ring the
Germans launched the cream OF the
mountain fighting troops-just as the
crown prince threw his Prussians
against Douamont and others at Yer
dun. At Grappa the famous German
Alpen corps, the Austrian imperial
Hharpshooters, German chausseurs,
and the Austrian Edelweiss divisions
were hurried to the assault.
The Italians fought like fends.
Prisoners today declare the resist
Rnce often wiped out half OF the at
tAckers' electives. That was almost
the ratio at Nerdun.
Like Verdun, also. the defenders
heroic resistance permitted time for
allied re-enforcements 10 complete
their organization At Grappa the
Gtoppage OF the enemy move allowed
French and British armies TO get in
line in perfect organization without
hurry. They are now there. The
Piave line now seems impossible.
Ills ne passerient pas" is the
slogan.