The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-12-29
WAR IN ITALY.
AUSTRO-GERMANS SEEK TO
DOMINATE ITALIAN PLAINS.
With Rccapmrc or Asolone Positions,
Diaz's Men Take New Heart for Fu.
turc Battles.

Associated Press.-Cnexpectedly balk-
ed I'm their march towards the plain
by the loss OF the Monte Asolone po-
sitions within "a hours after they
had captured them. the Austro-Ger-
man forces are concentrating heavily,
according to all availale reports, north
and northeast OF this important APP
proach to dominating Monte Grappa.
A new and unprecedented vigorous
onslaught on the barriers to the plains
Is expected soon. not only at Grappa
but on the Asiayo plateaus and pos
sibly the lower Piave.
Although expert opinion appears to
be approaching unanimity that the
Austrians have given up hope OF
breaking through the Italian line AT
present. so far as to force another
great retreat. all available informa-
ton indicates the enemy wants to ac-
complish another big success by cap
turing all peaks commanding the
plain and would vastly prefer a po-
sition at the northern limit OF the
plain. at least where climatic condi-
tions would favor his troops.
Even cursory visit to the Grappa
sector. however. Is sufficient to reveal
convincingiy how very far the enemy
Is from accomplishing this objective
and how formidable the Italian posi-
tions are. backed up by a rejuvenated
army, thoroughly reorganized and re-
quipped and whose spirit was shown
BY the counterattack In which he cap
tured the great Asolone positions. I'm
mediately after the regaining of the
Asolone heights the correspondent
found 1t possible to proceed to a van
tage point slightly south and west OF
Grnppa. which at the time was being
viciously bombarded with shapnel by
the enemy who had lost II few
hours before. Had the enemy been
able to hold II and conquered Monte
Conston. this key position would have
been seriously menaced.
Their rebuff at this important point.
however, drove the Austro-German
forces not only at n considerable dis
tance from the plain they are seeking
but makes their progress toward 1t
extremely difficult, now that the
weather conditions are severe.
A single day spent with the Italian
forces on this mountain section serves
to show conyincingly what stupen
dous task the Austro- German invad-
ers have. While German shrapnel
was viciously peppering the lost Aso-
lone heights. countless light and
heavy italian batteries. honeycombine
and dotting the two adjoining noun
tains. were hammering the enemy
increasingly Every path In the
mountainside disgorged troops work.
Ing under the socalled rotation sys-
tenn. by which the enemy men in
the first lines. after serving there fol
some days. fall back into the reserve
being relieved by reserves and thor
gradually working their way forwai'a
TO the first line again.
At many points lay piles of ammu
milton and the way here and there
was almost impossible by reason oi
the batteries that were making thei,
ascent. Masses of troops lay waiting
to relieve the first line fighters
troops obviously cheerful. we'll fec
and confident that the reconquest o.
a great part OF the Asolone position,
had brought to final halt the Aus
tro-German progress towards tn,
plain.
The concentrations on the Asiagt
plateau and along the lower Piave
while perhaps numerically less i'm
portant than those in the Grappa re
gion. arc admittedly for the same pur
pose. according TO the admissions o
prisoners. who say the condition o
their troops is terrible and they mus
AT all costs secure n line on the plair
and control the Brenta and Piav,
valleys 30 that they will not have tC
endure the winter In the mountains.
I'VE must secure these things a
whatever price and sacrifice may b'
necessary" were the words in which
Austrians summed up the situation
Tho prisoners. virtually without ex-
oeption' predict that "the end CT this
year VIII be marked by furious
battles which, will last fortnight"
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