South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-11-19
If Lines Hold
Ten Days More
Tide VIII Turn
ITALIAN HEADQUARTERS IL

ldC w III i III III
ITALIAN HEADQUARTERS IN
NORTHERN ITALY. Saturday.
Nov. l9.-The battle Of the Piave
river. as it will be known, now has
developed 20 a stage where the
encmy's first attempts 10 make a
breach in the Italian lines have fail
ed. This defensive result has not
only been accomplished by the Ital-
ian army but also time has been
secured TO effect that recovery from
the retreat which will permit the
army 10 resume its offensive power
as well as it's defensive.
The enemy was taking full ad-
vantage Of the delicate period after
the retreat, knowing that every day
counted for restoring solidarity 10
the Italian offensive force. In this
knowledge too, the Italian supreme
command is proceeding methOdical-
~, giving ground here and there
and holding elsewhere, as all this is
part of a systematic plan to bring
10 the army offensive qualities 10
deal a blow at a chosen moment.
Tide TO Turn.
One hears tonight talk in high
quarters that if the Piave line holds
another few days. the tide will be
turned, as its successful defense
through six fearful days has es-
tablished that the enemy has his
| Limitations.
Thus far, nothing beyond batta~
! lions have crossed the river, and no
corps or brigades, much less divi-
sions has passed the dead line. Only
at Zenson and Grisolera are there
any serious Judgements on the west
bank Of the Piave and today the
enemy was forced back 10 the river
at Zenson and elsewhere. with more
than a thousand men captured,
while the flood waters bar him be-
/ fore Grisolera.
Piave Fearful Scene.
1t is because the Piave has re-
sisted so well that the enemy now
/ is turning his attention to the north
and trying 10 make a breach there.
1 The line on the north runs along
Asiago, Cismon and QuerO and
there the Italian position remains
| virtually unchanged. In the east
where the mountain line joins the
Piave, the Italian position has been
moved a little further back, not in
giving ground, but 20 solidify the
whole northern front from Mont
! Tondarecar on the west to the Piave
on the east thus consolidating the
defense at the center and on both
northern wings. This is the situa-
/ ton tonight after one of the most
| trying weeks Italy has ever known.
/ Ii makes the whole country breathe
/ easier and await with serenity, al
most confidence those crucial days
still ahead.
The lower Piave this morning
was a fearful scene Of desolatior
made by the release OF the flood
waters by the Italian engineers to
bar the progress of the enemy.
What was a. smiling farm land
10 days ago now is a vast sheet OF
water stretching for miles. Above
the level Of the water, roofs and
the upper stories Of farm houses
can be seen here and there.
Intense silence hangs over the
desolate waste, broken only by tbs
seabirds, which come in flocks from
the Adriatic. and the muttering OF
guns at the mouth of the river
! Some OF the upper floors OF the
| farm houses are still occupied by
the local constabulary of the val
/ ley.
The extent Of water interposes an
! impossible defense to any advance
of the enemy in that quarter and
under this sheet Of water is soft
mud, now soaked to a quicksand
consistency. about six feet deep
making it impossible for enemy ar
/ tillery or horses to enter without
sinking. The first enemy party that
got across has been forced back
and now is held at bay by the flood
Italian Lines Hold.
! on the northern line and along
the Piave river above Zenson the
I lighting has assumed extreme sew
Gritty. The enemy, whose forces ex-
coed the Italians on the northern
4 line. now has thrown fresh divisions
into the battle in a supreme effort
10 break through. The Italians are
resisting with desperate tenacity
using hand grenades TO meet the in
| fantry rushes following artillery
and machine gun fire. 1t is one OF
the bitterest struggles Of the war
and the losses are heavy.
On the Piave the enemy got
across at two points Folina and
Fagara. a few miles above Zenson
but those at Folina were annihilat-
ed by artillery and hand 10 hand
fighting. while the attackers al
Fagara were driven back 10 the
western bank with heavy losses.
The Italian lines are holding ir
the main. but the enemy assaults
renew the gravity Of the situation
The italian cavalry is doing
! splendid service. seconding the
army in the bombardment of enemy
positions toward the mouth Of the
Piave river. The navy. which held
the inner front from the mouth OF
Isonzo 10 Grade, saved Of all it:
material and cannon and these nov
are being trained on the enemy a