Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 60, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 October 1917 — 10,000 ITALIANS TAKEN IN DRIVE [ARTICLE]

10,000 ITALIANS TAKEN IN DRIVE

Berlin Reports the Capture ot Important Positions BIG BATTLE IS STILL RAGING Teutons Scale Steep Mountain Slopes and Storm Strong Defenses—Cadoron May Use Trench Defense. Berlin, Get. lit!. —Heavy captures Ini prisoners and booty have been made by the Austro-German forces attacking the Italians on the Isonzo front, army headquarters announced. The prisoners include divisional and brigade! staffs. The total of prisoners taken exceeds 10,000. The fighting on thlsi front is continuing. In the first rush of the attacking forces, aiids the statement, strong Italian positions barring the way to thet valleys of ihe Flitsoh basin and Tol'mfno were overrun. Steep mountain slopes were scaled, and an Italluni point of support which crowned thei heights was stormed. The Italians fought desperately, and hard battling was necessary to break! their resistance at many points. Break Italian Lines. Rome, Ocf. 2(s.—Taking advantage' of their bridgehead of Santa Maria) nnd Santa Lucia, the Austro-German forces, which began an offensive oni the Isonzo front, brought the battle on t to the slopes of the right (west) bankj of the Isonzo, says the official statement. To Hold Most of Gains. Washington, Oct. 20!—Our own military authorities, as well as legation at-l taches of our allies, express no sur-i nt the German attack on thei Italian front. For a week they havei known that the kaiser was sending dl-* visions of Ms veterans to put heart into the Austrians, demoralized' by thei steady advance of the Italian troops.) They expect that the German reenforcements will stop General Cadorna for a time, and that he may eveui l)e forced Into trench defense; but they' have no Idea that the Germun-Austrian commands can make any great headway. British and French guns and ammunition will enable them to stop uny big advance of the enemy.