South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-12-02
CANNONS ROAR
AMID ICE and
SNOW IN ITALY
Correspondent Views DeSOIate
Yet Impressive Scene from
Above CIoudS-Diaz
Men COntented.
Associated Press Service


ITALIAN HEADQUARTERS IN
NORTHERN ITALY, Friday, Nov.
ga colonel commanding batteries
along the Asiago front, where the
AUstrians and Germans are -exerting
their chief pressure took the cor
respondent along his lines today
and explained the situation and the
action in progress. From his OBJ
servation post at the summit of the
mountains thanking the Asiago pla-
teau one could look down on the
shell-tOrn and deserted city OF Asia
go, now held by the enemy with
his lines of entertainments beyond
and his batteries blazing from the
long range of submits extending
from Monte Meletta eastward to the
Brenta river.
1t was a most impressive noun
tain scene at an altitude Of 5000
feet with the clouds lying below
instead of above and the cannonade
echoing through the gorges The
ground was covered with an inch
of snow which had fallen in the
night and the ponds formed in she'll
holes were coated with three inches
OF ice.
Men Appear COntented.
The men off duty were around
camp fires looking well and con-
tented The colonel said living con-
ditions, rations and supplies were
In good shape.
on the mountain slopes. others in
trenches and dugouts while others
were in rough frame barracks which
are being hastily constructed.
Asiago itself presented a desolate
spectacle in the midst of the fire
swept plateau, 70 which it gives the
name with the Italians on one side
and the enemy on the other. Houses.
churches and tall Companies could
be seen plainly, but the colonel said
the whole place was in ruins with
out a building intact. Strong field
glasses showed no sign of life in
the iowa mad no smoke arose from
the factories or residences.
Artillery Fire Continuous.
The artillery was Eeavy and con-
tinuous The colonel said the enemy
was bringing up heavy guns Of large
caliber Twenty monster projectiles
had come in a bunch early in the
day opening great craters which
were now frozen ponds There has
been no infantry advances and the
colonel was satisfied with the repulse
the enemy had received. The enemy
would doubtless attempt another
advance. the colonel said. but the
strength of the italian lines gave
assurance that he would be repulsed
again.
Austrian prisoners who had been
brought i'm declared that they re-
Gently came from the Russian front
The enemy lines were made up, ac-
cording 20 this officer. OF Germans
and Austrians. but there were no
Bulearians or Turks The wild ma
ture of this country was shown
while the soldiers were digging their
trenches when they unearthed this
fossil remains Of numerous mastO
dons Of gigantic dimensions.
Move Big Forces Forward.
Along the road leading TO the
front there was increasing activity
with vast forces Of men and ma
terial pushed forward. The CORES.
pendent passed batteries of heavy
guns drawn by trains. tractors and
huge stacks Of nine and 12-inch
shells Infantry was moving for
ward, being strung along the road
for three miles This and frequent
evidences OF troops on many roads
gave visible sign Of the power being
concentrated. while on every hand
the officers and men were confident
that the enemy's great drive from
the north had been held as that
from the Piave side was held