The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1917-12-29
Progress of The War
From Sundays Salt Lake Tribune


French war cry at the siege of Ver-
dun. In both cases the resistance
has been marked by equal determin-
alton and skill. The only bitterness
in this glorious hour of Italian his
tory is the recollection that had the
resistance been as brave and resolute
in Austria as it now is in Italy there
would have been no invasion. But
the Roman soldiers are not permit
ting themselves to be discouraged by
thoughts of what might have been.
They show their real stamina in
standing up SO unflinchingly under
the reverses they have suffered.
For eleven days battle has been
in progress in the mountainous Sec
tors. The Teutons. failing in their
frontal attacks on the great strong
hold of Monte Grappa. turned their
attention westward and sought for
way around. Gradually they have
reduced the salient protecting Monte
Grappa on the western side and have
got part way around the stronghold's
flank. One by one the protecting
hills of Caprille. Col della Baretta,
Monte Solarolo. Monte Pertica and
Monte Asolone have fallen who'll
ly or partly into the hands OF the
Huns. For five days the Huns. in
the latest battle which is not yet end
ed. pushed ahead at terrible sacrifice
of life. The defenders were deter
mined TO make the invaders pay as
heavy price as possible for the valu-
able mountain positions.
When they captured Monte Aso-
lone the Italian defense line became
seriously compromised. for this is
the last commanding height at the
head of San Lorenzo valley. From
it the Romans retired to the high
lands not far from the Venetian
plains. They still held Monte Grappa
and from it could dominate with
their artillery certain of the enemy's
fanking positions.
The united command saw that the
time had come to pass from the de-
fensive to the offensive and the Ital-
ians gallantly took up the task. AL
though outgunned and compelled to
make their advances in the hottest
kind of artillery fire they have con-
tinued to charge. time after time for
six days. Their losses must, of
course, be as heavy, if not heavier,
than the losses the enemy suffered in
bis advance. But the Italians esti-,
mated their man power and COM
pared it with the man power of the
foe. They discovered that they
could afford to lose man for man and
still have the better of the war of
attrition.
The Italians have not tried to shift
their responsibility. They have done
practically all the fighting on their
side despite the presence of British
and French armies. With splendid
spirit they have poured out their
blood in defense of their country.
But better even than their courage
has been their spirit of unity. for it
has shown that the insidious pro-
paganda of the enemy succeeded in
demoralizing the Italians only until
they awoke to the fact that they
we're being duped. Then discord was
virtually extinguished. and the peo-
pie combined in a unanimous resolve
TO hold back the enemy. So far they
have triumphed. for although they
have lost commanding positions in
the mountains they have been able to
hold the Piave line of defense. Time
has worked in their favor. 1t has
enabled them to strengthen their de-
tense along the river and build new
barriers in the mountains. 1t has
prevented the enemy from getting
into Venetian plains before the COM
ing of the SHOWS. To-day the val
leys and passes in the mountains are
nlling with snow and each day the
Teutons find their transportation
diffin,i.:-- :--.I