Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-07
Italians Suffer Heavy Losses
in New Enemy Drive, But J
Line Is Intact.
INVADERS LIKEWISE
SEVERELY PUNISHED
Confidence Still Is Voiced That Gen.
Diaz's Men Will Balk Fur
ther Incursions. +

Violent fighting continues on the
northern Italian front between Asiago
and the Brenta river. The .Austro-G Ger
mans have made gains, claiming the cap
ture Of Monte Sisemol, but have not yet
been able to break the Italian lima
The Italians, inficting heavy losses on
the attackers. have retired gradually to
prepare positions and admit they have
given up Monte Flor and Monte Castel..
gomberto. Berlin claims 5000 pris-
oners.
On the western end of the line the
Austro- German attempts to encircle the
Meletta position and cut it of were
defeated. Along the Brenta, east OF
Monte Badenecche, and Monte fonda
recar, lost Wednesday to the enemy, the
Italians repulsed, with heavy loss, de-
termined effort to break through.
ROME, December Ton the Asiago
plateau the battle Is continuing with
out Interruption" says todays of1cial
report.
Latest Berlin Report. ~
By the Associated Press.
BERLIN, December z, via London
Four Thousand more Italians have been
captured in the new Austro-Germano Of
up the total to $4,000, according to to-
days Official communication.
Monte Sisemol was captured by storm
the statement says @-si
Old Tactics Repeated. =:
By the Associated Press. s---s,
ITALIAN II E QUARTZ B r SIN
Der 6.-The big operation which the
enemy is attempting In the north ID vir.
tually a repetition of the turning nova
ment he executed six weeks ago In the
time he broke through the upper end
Of the line and thus endaneered IL.
lower end. This 10 exactly the ettuetSeq5
which is being repeated today.
not only affects the lines in that region,
but II the enemy could pierce through
and drive his way southward onto the.
plains, it might place him on the left
Duke of Aosta has his Sd Army. .t
Gorizia, with the enemy on his LEFT
flank. 1t is this quite as much as the
frontal attack that is receiving consid-
ably is stronger today than before the
retirement yesterday. as 1t is now .
straight line. Formerly it was like .
long inverted letter U, with the Italians
on the inside ohthe U and the enemy on
the outside.
Backward Season Aids Foe.
It has been established that while
Field Marshal Conrad Won Hetxendorf
is directing the movement. Gen. Won
forces also are cooperating.
In addition to the superiority in num-
m
advantage of the backward season and
are striking before the mountain SHOWS
impede operations.
The weather this year happens to be
favorable to the enemy. The snow 10
only few inches deep. whereas in De-
cember the snow usually reaches .
depth of from four to ten feet One
such snowfall now would be worth df-
Gray skies today indicated
snow, but the fall was light
italian Lines Intact.
The splendid showing the Italians
made single-handed, on the AsiaGo
plateau is leading to the frequent re-
the Italian verdun. While the Italians
mad fallen back. as did the heroic de-
tenders of Verdun. yet their main lines
are intact and inspire confidence that
vaders from reaching the Italian plains.
The Italian list Army. which --b
meeting the brunt of the attack. is CIV
ing splendid evidence of its offensive
and defensive qualities. The spirit OF
the men is high. and the general COM
the LIST Army has gone along
the front line. saw his men in the 1eld
and trenches and personally congratu.
ated them on their yalor.
Italian Losses Also Heavy.
The Importance of the nghtiAe
round Asiago is not UNDERESTIMATE
tut it is estimated the line of reaigt-
nee on which the Italians have re-
ired is capable of holding the Fran
ella and Gadena passes leading into
ONE miles below. The fighting Aes
een of the most desperate character,
nd while the enemy has paid dearly
or his success. the italian losses also
ave been very heavy.
An eyewitness from the scene Of
perations gave the correspondent de-
ails of the extent and bloody nature
f the carnage. Enemy reserves were
oured in until the Italians were TAR
They continued to
truggle desperately, however, and Ia
ne casea small detachment Of ber-
aglieri met the shock of an entire
austrian regiment. Austrian KAISER
aegers displayed unprecedented feroc-
". using stilettos as well as bayonsts
4 fierce hand-to-hand fighting.
Alpini Show Heroism-
But the greatest single Instance az
,eroism and loss was in the case Of
eyeral detachments Of Alpini. which
cid Monte Castelgomberto agaiust
odds until surrounded
ompletely. Thus encircled. they made
epeated charges. but the heavy sur
ounding lines held and the entire
arty was still on the mountain when
he remainder of the Italian line fell
ack.
In other case one brigade of bersag-
eri lost a great number of officers and
ZEN in the same proportion. -.-se
The extent Of the enemy reserves IL
hoWn by their concentration in the
yeraRe amount Of division for every
flometer. These divisions have been
ientified as the 9Th, 18th. 2lst, 45th
nd SD in addition to others not iden-
ned, and a number of German battzl-
ms. The artillery IRE also has bean
ne heaviest since the new Italian line
as formed.
this morning were virtunl-
: unchanged. Much depends upon the
bility of the Italians to hold the
zssss to which they have now rsttrsd
the Hrsuta valley and thu
la1nA