The Washington herald., 1918-01-30
Most Powerful Offensive Ac-
tion of Winter Over
whelns Enemy.
1,500 PRISONERS
TAKEN BY VICTORS
Violent Counter-Attacks BY
the Teutons Fail to
Bulge Ally.
Special Gable to TIE wsshinstes
Herald and New York Trfbuse.

Special Gable to TIE wsshinste.
Herald and New York Trfbu.e.
London. Jan. 2o.-ln the most
powerful offensive action under
taken by any force this winter. the
Italians yesterday smashed through
the Austrian lines on the Asiaso
plateau and swept in more than
I 500 prisoners. including 81 on
GERS.
East Of the Asiago basin. Gen.
Diazs troops stormcd a series Of
strong heights. penetrated the
enemy's positions at several points
and clung to their gains in the
face Of violent counter attacks by
Austrian reinforcements, Rome off,
cially reported today.
Simultaneously with the infantry
offensive. the Italian aimen con-
Quoted an extensive air drive above
the scene Of the battle. bringing
down twelve enemy machines, and
throughout the action retaining
mastery Of the air, a necessary fac
tor in the scheme Of operations.
Not SOut Of War;
over night Italy. who was 20 have
been put out OF the war" before
! snow fell. has once more risen 20
a dominating plane in the allied mill
itaTy calculations.
At a moment when the Austrian
4 home front" is on the brink OF
! collapse the Italians have dealt Q
staggering blow to the dual mon
archy's army.
II the success is followed up and
1 the Austrians suffer a large scale
defeat the effect upon the war
weary Austrian masses will be in
caIculable.
Moreover. Hinderbuyg faces new
''ultimatum" from the Austrian stan
and may have to throw his ambi-
! tious Western plans overheard to
save the Ksiser's ally.
The attack centered in the region
Of Col Del RossO and the FrenIel&
Valley. down which the AustriAns
: had driven last fall to a point peri
1 lously close to the edge OF the Ven
etian plain. Between Monte Sise-
mol and the Frenzela Valley, and
about midway between Asisgo and
the Brenta River, the battle line
takes a wide curve TO the south
ward. the tip OF this salient resting
on Rosso Hill and Monte al Val
( Bella
| 1t was these positions. strongly
held by the enemy. which the Itsl-
I ians first stormed. in an effort to
slice OF the apex OF the salient
Berlin reports that the attackers
gained a foothold on Monte di Val
Bella, but were later hurled back in
counter-thrust by the Austrisns.
At other points in the line OF at
tack, which was about three miles
/ in length, the Italians were success
/ full in breaking through the oppos-
| ing positions. the German commun-
! ique admits, but were defeated in
1 NOuSAdA dAAtAApAs " AdSA
serves forward and widen the
! breaches.
The statement declares that the
| Italian losses were extremely
1 heavy, including 500 prisoners
! taken by the Austrisns.
Reserve. Rushed UR
The success OF the Italians IN
I their initial blow on the AsiagO
Plateau. warning OF which had
been given by the intense artillery
{ bombardment of the previous night,
was such that the enemy hurried
( reinforcements 20 the threatened
( front from every part OF his rear
! line. The effective FIRE OF the
! Italian. French and British batter
/ les prevented the harassed forces
OF the enemy from getting aid
through the Nos and Campomulo
valleys. but by other routes troops
I were rushed up in time 70 stavs
| OF a serious reverse.
Midwinter offensive operations are
almost unprecedented. The policy
of the Italians in striking at this
time seems TO disclose anxiety on
their part to recover the dominating
positions on the Northern front be-
fore spring conditions make possible
renewal OF the enemy's drive
toward the Dlains