Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-11-30
FEvER|SHLY BUILD
DEFENSES |N|TA[y
Teutons Prepare TagIiamento
Line if Anticipation of Pos
SibIe ReverSes.
GEN. SCRIVEN AT FRONT

BY the Associated Press.
ROME, November 30.-Violent ar
tillery fighting is in progress at sew
eral points on the front, but no fur
ther large infantry actions are re-
ported in today's official ccn'nuni-
cation. The announcement follows:
THE artillery struggle, which has
been growing more intense on the
whole front, was particularly brisk
in the region Of Meletta, on the
Asiago plateau and on the plains
along the middle and lower Piave.
In the coastal area British monitor
obtained a direct hit and severed q
bridge OF boats which the enemy had
thrown across the river in the vicin-
ity Of Passarella-
Above Asfago an enemy airplane
was downed in an aerial combat
sLast night an enemy encampmept
between Feltre and Fonzaso was
bombarded effectively by our ma
chimes"
ITALIAN HEADQUARTERS IN
ITALY, Thursday. November 2s-The
lessening Of the intensity of the enemy
garded as forecasting the moving Of
activity to other points, either for
massed attacks or in preparation of de-
fensive positions capable of meeting the
Italians, reinforced by the British and
French. In concerted advance. Avia-
tors report that the enemy is feverishly
active along the Taglamento river,
where he is compelling the civilian pop
ulation to assist in the construction of
lines Of defensive trenches and works
on the eastern bank Of the river to
which he probably. would fall back in
Case Of a reverse along the Piave.
Conditions Improved.
Improved conditions are reflected in
Italian finances and exchange on the
British sovereign has jumped nine Ira
within one week. The sovereign a week
ago was worth forty-two lira, but Brit
ish officers now arriving get only thirty
three lira on a pound. or a net change
of nine Ira in favor Of Italian money.
The arrival of a number Of American
officers is regarded as highly salts
factory and perhaps significant of COM
ing events. Up to the present the
American government has required
military and naval Qhseryets to remain
Q0tuQ8p0l1YSIyS SlA8GI1y0- IN lIalT. 10 ~
not to AFFECT Austro Hungary, with
whom America is as yet at peace.
szsAk 1s1ssfaInspScts Line.
Brig. Gen. George P. scriven. who is
here to study the Italian situation for
the American government, yesterday
Inspected the line along the upper
Piave end today was going along the
northern lighting front
The general: went into the first line
trenches along the edge of the Piave
yesterday, noting the condition. Of the
officers and men as well as the charac-
ter OF the defenses. the material and
guns. A heavy artillery fire was COM
Ing from enemy batteries posted on
hill on the opposite side of the river,
Wh ,hs .sn1s. ss rs from the bushes along
were making strong reply over the
place where the general and his escorts
were making their inspection. At an
other place the general saw a heavy
General Is Impressed.
Gen. Scriven said he was impressed
most favorably with all that he saw, as
1t shows the Italian army has been able
to make an effective reorganization and
is now in high state of efficiency. The
Piave river he regards as having good
ueIcuSIfc advantages, not SO muCn
against infantry as II is narrow and
shallow, but 1t Is sufficient to be a bar
rier against the enemy's crossing with
artillery unless they establish strong
pontoon crossings. which the Italians
thus far have made impossible.
Italian material. guns and supplies
were of the best and Gen. Scriven de-
clared he was struck with the fine ap-
pearance, of four batteries of Italian
artillery Fastening along the roads up
to the front line. In the trenches he
noted the men at the guns and the re-
lief sleeping in the trenches ready to
take the place Of those on duty. The
spirit of the men was excellent and
while living conditions necessarily are
hard. all essential supplies and rations
were coming regularly.
Sees British Division.
The American offcer also saw a Brit
ish division moving toward the front.
1t included an engineer section artil-
larry. cavalry and infantry. The thor
oughness of their equipment and the
high state of the men. horses, mules
and guns was particularly noticeable,
The tour today will take Gen. rScriven
Bassano and along the AsiaEo
plateau, where the fighting now is
heaviest because of the enemy attempts
to: force way southwark to the open
plains.