The sun., 1917-11-23
ITALIANS HOLD
MOST OF LINE IN
2 DAYS BATTLE
Germans Storm and Take
Two Mounts in North, but
Fail in South.
FRESH TROOPS IN ACTION
Invaders Hurl Reserves Into
Fight as Succeeding At
tacks Are Repulsed.

PARIS. Nov. 22 Except Tor two minor
points in the northern sector the Italian
line Is holding fast and for two days the
Austro-Germans have made no material
gain. Berlin reports tonight that
"Tyrolese imperial rifemen and Wurt-
temberger troops have taken by storm
the submits OF Monte Fontana ard
Monte Spinuccia. between the Brenta
and the Piave rivers"
On the lower Piave the situation Is
unchanged. The British monitors In the
Adriatic of the mouth Of the river are
cooperating with the Italian warships
In shelling heavily the Austrian posi-
tions menacing Venice. 1t cannot be
said that Venice Is out of danger. but
the prospect that the queen Of the
Adriatic" will escape the fate Of the
French cities which fell into German
hands is much Better than 1t was even a
few days ago.
Italian aviators returning from flights
over the invaded districts report that
they saw long lines Of the civilian popu-
lation headed for Austria under guard.
Italians Take Prisoners.
The Italian statement to-day reads:
Yesterday the enemy launched sew
erai attacks between the Brenta and
the Piave rivers He was sanguin-
arily repulsed with the bayonet at
the barrier lines of St. Marino. where
he left prisoners and machine guns In
our hands. and at Monte Pertica,
where he fruitlessly renewed that
attack three times. He was arrested
completely by artillery fire at Monte
Monfenera. A few outstanding ele-
ments Of our advanced lines on Monte
Fontana Secca were reached.
During the early hours Of last night
enemy masses on the Asiago Plateau
attacked our positions at Casera ana
Meletta d'Avanti. but our troops. oner-
ing heroic resistance and counter at
tacking promptly. drove them back to
the positions whence they started.
The Fourth Italian Army. under Gen
Robilant, Is meeting the full force OF the
treme ndous shock the enemy has con-
centrated between the Piave and Brenta
rivers. the Associated Press correspond
ent at Italian headquarters. reports. II
authoritative quarters the correspondent
was told that the enemy forces deliver
ing this blow are In the proportion Of
: TO az compared with the 1taliar
forces. and this is practically the re!a
tive strength on the two wings west o
the Brents. where Gen. Pecori com
nands the First Italian Army and the
right wing along the Piave. where thu
Duke Of Aosta holds the enemy as in Z
wise.
Forced Back by TeutOns.
Il, is in this position that the Fourtl
Army Is experiencing the most intens'
action. with attacks following In rapi'
succession. Reports early in the day
were satisfactory. as the main hgh;in'
ground was further north on the enemy
positions. though at one point the enem!
succeeded in breaking through the Ital
ian lines on the foothills of Monte Fon
tana Secca, compelling the reformation
Of the defensive lines little furths
back.
These fluctuations are marked by th
b,oodiest fighting, with the enemy re
serves coming forward for three sue
cessive attacks, which were met at tn
point OF the bayonet and driven back
except for one push down the coveiei
valley.
Just west OF this main field OF actiO,
the Italian First Army rushed the enem.
positions near the Brenta River and II
two attacks and counter attacks held tn
occupied ground, which was strewn will
enemy corpses.
in the bushes on the west bank back O
Zenson are now placed at 700 men. VIII
are being raked by the artillery. as the.
have tried to set up az line OF mach!n
guns across the small area they occupy