Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-11-06
CROWN PRINCE MAY s
ATTEMPT BIG DRIVE
AGAINST PERSH|NG
Having Located Position Of
American Forces on Battle
Front, Germans May Attempt
to Wipe Them Out

| NEW YORK, Nov. 5.-CBy foreign
cables from European capitals. )-Inl
| fantrymen of the American overseas
forces have had their first clash with
the Germans in a front line trench posi-
ton and three Americans were killed,
five wounded and twelve captured. Tho
Germans attacked at daypreak on Nov
ember 8 under cover of a heavy bar
rage fire which isolated short salient
occupied by a company of Americans
and apparently left the little force at
the mercy of their enemies. The ro-
port from General Pershing dealing
with the engagement which was made
public by the war department early to-
day did not mention whether
the trench had been captured.
However, the fact that one wounded
German was taken by the Americans
leads to the belief that the attacking
party did not remain to further con-
test the position but were content to
slip back to their protecting lines with
their prisoners. General Pershing's first
casualty list gave the names and ad-
dresses fall the Americans killed,
wounded or missing, which included
many southerners, although none of the
southern men met death.
That American troops receiving in.
tensive training in the trenches had
had their first fight with the enemy was
intimated Saturday in a cryptic official
statement from Berlin announcing the
capture of North American" soldiers.
Cable dispatches from the American
army headquarters in France also serv-
ed to prepare the American public for
the news of the engagement through
anouncement that the artillery activity
was somewhat above normal. although
not anything near as Intense as on other
parts of the front. s'A
Italy's situation appears increasingly
grave today with the announcement
from Rome that the Tagliamento river,
west of which General Cadorna had es-
tablished his new line after the great re-
treat from the Isonzo had been crossed
by the Austro-German invaders.
The crossing of the river apparently
has not yet been in sufficient force to
compel Cadorna to decide upon abandon-
ment of the Tagliamento line, but the
Teutonic commander undoubtedly Will
make the most of the opening he has
forced to debouch against the Italian
positions north and south of the point
where he has gained a footing on the
west bank of the stream. 49,
That this process is already under
way is indicated by the fact that Rome
tells of increasing Austro-German pres
sure against the Italian left wing, where
The spot selected by the enemy for
the successful attempt-near Pinzano,
about forty miles from the mouth of the
river and about seventeen miles north-
west of Udine-was at point where the
marshy ground encountered further to
the south begins to disappear, the banks
rising perceptibly and the river narrow
ting down.
If General Cadorna decides to abandon
the Tagliamento line, at which it is by
no means certain that he intended TO
fight more than a delaying action, his
next natural stand for the defense OF
Venice will be at the Livensa, from ten
TO fifteen miles further west, or finally at
the Piave, some ten miles further in that
direction.
Berlin's account of the Tagliamento
crossing gives the movement the appear
ance of an operation in great force which
| already has resulted in a decided Teu-
tonic victory. More than 5000 Italians
! were taken prisoner and several guns
were captured in the engagement de-
clares the official statement. The Aus
| tro-Hungarian and German divisions
which effected the passage, are advanc-
/ ing westward, it is added.
! Meanwhile, as the opposing armies are
struggling for the temporary mastery
/ Of the field, the entente leaders, includ-
| ing the British and French premiers ana
military advisers, are in council In Rome
! to deal with the situation, which admit
/ tedIy is recognized grave, coupled AZ
the powerful attack from the east 10
with the threat of a thanking movement
by the Austro- German forces southwark
| in the Trentino, to the west of the pres
ent battle front.
Meanwhile France and Great
| Britain are rushing their great
est military and governmental
/ leaders to aid Italy. Premier Lloyd
! George, General Sir William Robertson,
chief of the imperial staff of the British
army: Lieutenant General ]. c. SHUTS.
the former South African commander,
and other officials in company with Pre-
mier Painleve, who is heading the
French mission, are on. their way to
Rome for a conference with the Italian
war chiefs presumably to map out an
intensive campaign involving the Italian
forces reinforced in both man-power and
materials drawn from France and Great
/ Britain
! In Flanders only minor operations are
reported, these being confined to artil-
1ery activity and small raids into the
German territory.
Signs of a probable impending renew.
| al of the offensive by Field Marshal
/ Haig in Belgium may be seen in the
| German statement on the western front
! operations. This reports the opening last
| night of heavy. destructive bombardment
along the User lowlands and from Hou-
| tholst wood to the Ypres-Comines canal
| This means, apparently. that Haig's guns
/ have opened up forcefully along virtu.
ally the entire' front from the North,
sea to the French border. -
Grown Prince May Try Big
Drive Against PerShinp