Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-12-24
DRIVE ENEMY
ACKACR0SS
PIAvE WATER
Great Air Activity Makes
Present Fighting Along
French Front.

Rome. Dec. 2i.- Enemy forces
which bad crossed the Piaye riy-
er 20 pinr iccchia have been
driven baCb over the river, the
war uiiicr announces.
On the mountain front. the state-
ment says, the AUstrO-Germans
passed the Italian positions in the
AsiagU sector IN the region of
BuSu Monte Nalbella. but stopped
at the Italian rear positions from
where DIE Italians are counter at.
lacking with satisfactory results.
Paris, Dec. 24.-Inteuse aerial activ-
Ay is reported by the war office. In
the course of 100 combats in the air
during the last few days the French
brought down is German machines.
The announcement follows:
"On the right bank Of the Mouse
Nerduu frouU The Germans made
two raids against our small posts
near BezonvaUy and Caurieres wood
Their efforts were repulsed by our
Ore The artillery fighting was rather
vigorous on the left bank of the river,
IN the sector OF BetblucOurt. On the
remainder Of the front the night was
calm.
B5che Alrships in Flames.
"On Dec p, % and % our pursuit
saaJ0rs were very active. Our pilots
engaged In 100 Combats. most of them
over The German lines. Eighteen Ger
man machines were brought down. OF
these seventeen fell in flames or
crashed to the ground and were de-
Er0yed.
During this, parind g4F bombing
squadron dropped $4,000 Kilograms
nearly twenty tousl OF projectiles on
railway stations, factories. encamp-
ueDts and other detectives behind the
enemy Ines
Germans Fail in Raid.
London Dec 24-German troops
Yesterday afternoon attempted to raid
NE British positions southeast of
Epehy on the Cambria front but were
driven off. the war Office announced
today The statement reads.
Last night hostile raiding parties
winch attempted 90 approach our lines
N the neighborhood of Monchy lie
FreuN and west Of La Bassee were re-
pulsed.
Yesterday afternoon the enemy en-
uea'orel to raid our positions south
''sI OF Epehy but he was driven of.
Washington Hears Story.
Washington, Dec. 24.-OmciaI dis
patches from Rome today give a de-
hled story yf the lighting on Monte
Aso'one They say:
with the rerapture of the positions
q Monte AsuiOue the Italian soldiers
nave written glorious page in the
tlAa.s oI this war Their bravery has
prevented the enemy from spreading
.lS forces 90 The south and completed
ue surrounding of Monte Grpapa. Our
"'llers fought for several days
ssanst fearful artillery fire and as
E4'AalHs gases The enemy suffer
/ a enormous losses. Il is calculated
siaJ IN the actions at Berretta and
monte As0.0ne the enemy has lost
| ,aree divisions. which have already
peen substituted from the 26th Of No
| ,emner 20 date General Pfeffer, com
mahaer OF The fourth enemy division
SNl the commanders Of the seventh
s00 eighth Austrian brigades have
! oeeA seriously wouuted.
| Made Slaves Of Germans.
d, The enemy command in the city Of
.t'ne has issued rules by which al
gu,.Amen, women and children, are
I ogused 10 work In the fields from
gc'ocN 10 the morning until o'clocl
III lne evening, with half an hour o.
~. IN The morning, one hour and {
.au al midday and half an hour in the
u,eFheou. The transgressors of these
,u'es VIII be accompanied to work an(
aNhet by German soldiers and, a
le termination of the harvest, the!
VIII De Imprisoned for six months ana
vFy three days they will receive onl!
Iesl and water Slow or lazy womer
y" be cNiled and lazy children viii
- hogsed. If necessary. the com
-auoer viii infict corporal punish
|elt on the woFkmen.
/ 10 Macedonia German troops have
..eptly launched three very yowerfu
m,@cAS against the positions held b,
1.SHdh soldiers along the Cerna river
H 'ha attacks were repulsed and tn
"Hy suffered considerable lasses."