The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-11-13
BATTLE OPENS
ON PIAVE LINE
Invaders Reach Eastern Bank,
While Italians Are on
Opposite Shore.
LEFT WING HOLDS FIRMLY
AustrO- Germans. However, Say
They Have Cut OFF and
Captured 1900 Men.

LONDON, New. l2.-Austro-Germa OPP
erations to the north and east Of the
Piave line In Italy are said to have re-
suited In preliminary failure. dispatches
from the headquarters Of Gen. Diaz indi-
eating that the menace on the italian
left practically is ended. The War ONCE
In Rome announced to-day that the ltal-
ians. aided by troops and guns from the
Entente. everywhere had resisted the
enemy advance. However. the attempt
to outflank the river line continues and
there Is brisk firing across the Piave
The fight on the Asiago plateau. Trentino
front. Is reported to have been COM
plete failure for the foe.
Berlin reports successful prosecution
of operations In the upper Piave Valley
and announced to-day that 10. 900 Italian
troops were cut off there and surren-
dered. Teuton forces have advanced
from Relluno down the Piave and are
standing before Feltre, having traversed
a distance OF seventeen miles Feltre Is
ten miles north Of the Venetian plains.
This operation Is believed to have no
direct bearing upon the Italian line on
the lower Piave.
The German night statement announces
the capture Of 1000 prisoners west Of
Belldho ION the Piave) in the Cordevole
Valley.
Heavy Firing begins.
Firing Is heavy all along the main line
and It Is appa rent that the real struggle
for mastery 10 about to start. 1t be-
came known to-day that the Piave line
was selected as the nrst point to make
q dehnite stand against the invaders,
the Tagiiamento and Livenso having
been chosen merely for delaying opera
tions.
Berlin admits strong italian resistance
Progress made In the sugana Valley and
on the Setti Communi 10 reported from
enemy headquarters. In the Sugana Val
ley the Austro-ierman lost advanced
positions and some men as a result OF a
, desperate charge.
The As.ago region apparently is the
key to the situation. and II the Italian
report of success there Is borne out l,
is believed the evacuation OF Venice and
! Treviso probably will be avoided, as the
Treviso hills a.ong the middle Piave will
, help bar the way in that direction.
Italian decentralization appears to b.
a thing Of the past and there appear.
no doubt that any further advances BY
Field Marshalvk'on Mackensen's armie!
will he made at severe cost
Omcial Reports Of Operations.
Official reports from the War ONCE,
! follow:
Italian--From Stelvio to Astico
there was no notable event yesterday.
| On the Asiago plateau the enemy re-
newed yesterday afternoon his attack
on our lines in the sector OF Gallo,
Monte Longara, Hill 1874 and Meletta
di Gallo. The enemy actions failed
completely under our artillery and
rife fire. On the extreme northern
part Of the front Of the attack. where
a bitter infantry struggle took place.
our men counter attacked and sue
ceeded In capturing some prisoners.
On the remainder OF the mountainous
front, during contact engagements
with the enemy vanguards. our ad-
vanced troops resisted everywhere.
On the plain across the Piave River
brisk firing Is reported.
German (day)-The energetic COL
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