Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-11-20

the machine guns were abandoned.
Most of the enemy fell along the
waters edge and an observer who saw
the gruesome sight says the bodies on
the river bank and in the water re-
minded him of seaweed after the tide
had gone out.
FIGHT IN DARKNESS.
Further up the river at Sega min the
other crossing had brought on another
bloody fight which lasted until late
yesterday when the whole shore was
cleared of living Austrians. But it was
lined with dead. The movement here
began late on Friday night and
reached its elimination about IL
o'clock Saturday morning. Friday
night several Austrian batta1ions got
across under the cover of darkness
They chose narrow channels and some
OF the Austrian officers rode across on
horseback. They took position near
the town cemetery and opened on the
Italians during the night with machine
guns. The Austrians carried two
searchights which they played on the
Italian position, while the Italians
were without searchlights. 1t was only
by the flashes of the Austrian machine
guns that the Italians could direct
their fire.
HEROIC BRIGADE TURNS TIDE.
At daylight yesterday the enemy
still held his position at the cemetery.
The situation began to look serious
and for time it appeared as though
the Italians would have to fall back.
But now the famous Bersagliaen bri-
gade was brought up fresh after its
heroic rear guard defense of the main
army as it retired on the field. Some
of the other troops were from nearby
towns and they were stirred to a last
desperate effort to save their homes.
The Italians charged shortly after
dawn, their line moving straight up
the hill to the cemetery. Against ma
chine gun fire and guns on the bank,
the Italians moved with bayonets, gren
AIDES and torpedoes. 1t was one Of
these charges inspired by love of home
and country which will live always and
it was irresistible.
BATTLE HAND TO HAND.
The enemy wavered and broke just
as the Italian artillery on a nearby
height got the range Of the cemetery.
But the main fighting was hand to
hand with the enemy being pressed
back steadily to the river where they
we're cut down, drowned, bayoneted
or captured. By 10 o'clock yesterday
all had been swept away except few
groups; by noon not one
Of the enemy's force was left on the
western bank.
In addition to some 1900 killed the
enemy lost 1900 prisoners, including
two colonies and some thirty officers.
All the Austrian machine guns were
and are now being used by
the Italians.
MILL CAPTURED SIX TIMES.
The fury of the fighting is shown by
the fact that the old Sega mill on the
rivers brink was taken and retaken |
six times during the ebb and flow.
The mill is full of bullet holes but
shows no evidence of she'll fire, indi-
eating that the fighting was entirely at
close quarters.
Italian stretcher bearers did noble
service yesterday afternoon in carry
ing the great number of Austrians who
ay along the shores. Two of these
stretcher bearers waded out to the
sand bar in mid-stream where several
seriously wounded Austrians had drag
,ed themselves. They were brought
pack and cared for by the Italian hos
oital corps. One of these Austrians
vas wounded seriously In the leg and
le was supported between two Italian
soldiers on the way to the receiving
tation. The Italians recovered their
lead, some of them at the waters
dge. One gunner was found hanging
ifeless over his machine gun.
This summarizes most desperate
light to preserve the Pave line.
CRUSHED BY LOADED WAGON.
Carrollton, Mo-, Nov. 19.-Margaret
,elcher, the five-year-old daughter of
ir. and Mrs. W. T. Belcher, who lives
n rural route No out of Carrollton,
: dead from injuries received when