The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1918-09-19
MOUNT CRAPpA HAS
BECOME A BYWORD
Italian Who Took Part In Great
Conflict Tells Of Many
Acts of Valor.

rrOhl IN Italy, 10y il.D-MO
GraPpa is a synonym for valor in ths
are those who defended the historic
mountain against the Austrians last
June and prevented their passage to
the Venetian plain. A bowider taken
from the spot where the fight was hot
test has been removed to Milan and
erected an a battle memorial with i'm
posing ceremonies.
Alighiero Castelli, Of the Italian
army who took part in the conflict has
written as follows:
The effort to straighten our tines
occupation OF Mount Vaibeila, Co del
Rosso and Col d'E.chele (Coi means
hilD was extended to the northwest OF
Mount Grappa, between Col Moschiu
n the AsOlone.
"Against this zone in his June Of
fensive. General Conrad, AZ all re-
member. launched his best troops In
an attempt which he expected would
open the way to the valley through
Bassano with comparative ease. He
was halted instead in the valley of San
Lorenzo driven from the p~lateaus he
IA taken and. through q bold stroke
OF our arms, obliged to abandon other
positions which are OF great advantage
to the Italians In checking q new drive
or starting An offensive against Aus
tria. as Conrad announced In n OF
us oiliisIIUS.
Artillery Fire FOR Two Days.
For two days the Austrian artillery
played on the zone without ceasing.
h night preceding the attack the o n
centration of fire was redoubled by the
Italians. fully engaging all h posi-
lions Of the enemy, ~disorganizing his
commands, cutting his communications
and all the nerves Of his movement.
In the morning the infantry went
into action and at one dash occupied
the positions OF the enemy. Soon their
Importance was disclosed by he large
number Of prisoners who appeared to
lay down their arms. "
6 o'clock our forces had achieved
all their detectives. A Roman colonel
commanded our infantry. A lieutenant
with one arm led another body of men.
He had refused to leave the service
when crippled and he exerted an ok
traordinary a~scendancy over his SOL
diers.
AT the same time our other detach-
ments Strengthened our positions in
the valley OF San Lorenzo aud i'm
proved the effectiveness of our lines.
The resistance Of the enemy was
obstinate. especially by the Twenty
seventh Austrian division.
The struggle in the trenches In the
communication lines. in the dugOuto
which our artillery had half destroyed
was bitter and at times fierce. With
the impetuous charge OF our attacking
parties the first 200 prisoners were
Our infantry seized 20 enemy machine
gun and forthwith turned II Of them
against him.
w took about 500 prisoners In all
n 81 officers, including a company
commander. The Austrian losses in
killed and wounded, however. were
about 1000 men.
Our artillery answered Immediate
ly with the greatest precision and ST.
fenced the enemy's barrage fire. 1t cut
off the Austrians in their dugouts and
declmated the occupants and support
ed the infantry at all times with great
efficacy.
The Austrians counter attacked
several times In vain, keeping up the
fight till 7 in the morning. They per-
sisted in Smelling the terrain with
hea w artillery. but under 1t our troops
succeeded in holding and consolidating
our positions.
THE Austrian prisoners taken near
Mount Grappa said they did O ex-
pect to be so quietly expelled from
their strong positions.
"rhe enemy suffered heavily. Soms
companies were reduced to q few men.
We saw battslions left In command OF
q lieutenant. Their supply department
was poorly organized. The soldiers
suffered from hunger, especially in the
last few days. They asserted hat lack
of provisions to send them a as much
to do with the conditions as the de-
fective provision service.
w saw a long column of Austrian
prisoners defle In front Of our Hues~
| with their officers leading Them. The;r
was that Of men happy to
escape from a great disaster.
One Of our soldiers threw a loaf OF
bread among them. The Austrians.
Il MI s~varrn ~ hAao HtsnU than noluoa
| on the bread to grab 1t. They tore 1t
| to shreds. After that tho column
| moved slowly through our lines. which
| stood at fxed b%ayonets.
"A Hungarian officer said:
"Tt IL useless. Mount Grappa has
! been and always will be our tomb
I'm contrast with the state Of tina
enemy, 1t is enough to say hat the
| Italian troops Of every class go into
battle singing hymns. with their he'll
NETS decked with flowers. shouting:
Fall back. Austrians. we are the SOL
diers of the Grappa!
l Seven Italian war prisoners sue
| ceeded In regaining our lines. After
escaping In spite Of the great vigilance
OF the enemy, they related that the
\ Austrians compel most of the prisoners
to work Immediately in the second line
trenches and under fire. The Austrians
lack food. They say that the hour CT
deliverance is eagerly awaited in the
invaded territory, while the inhabi-
tants make ostentatious display OF
their Italian patriotism. even in front
| OF the Austrian gendarmes.
THE children almost all wear little
! Alpine caps and sing the Hymn OF the
| Grappa.' even as they pass groups OF
| Austrian soldiers.
THE success OF yesterday. besides
! strengthening 1Ni i~r'proving "ut 20
| sitions. bars the road 20 the invader.
| which symboiizes the vsior OF our
| army and the infiexibte viii. OF our
I country"
MEM GREENaACkS OILY