DEFENCE OF VENICE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1798, 7 March 1918, Page 4

DEFENCE OF VENICE.

FIGHTING IN’THE MARSHES. _\ SUCCESSES WON BY ITALIANS. Recent operations on the Italian front were described by a corresppndent of the New York Herald, writing on January 19th. He stated that two notable successes had been gained by the Italians during the week. Fought to a standstill on both fronts, with their communications impeded by deep snow in the mountains, the Austro-German forces are unwilling to retreat,, yet unable to advance. The Italian Army has been brought up to greater strength than ever by the mustering of nearly 500)000 new men, ranging from 18 to 44. years old, a number far exceeding the losses suffered by the reverse in October. By their vietpry at Capo Sile, General Diaz’s forces removed the most threatening danger to Venice. This town is on the western edge of a triangular delta of marshland formed by the Piave and the “Old Piave,” or Sile River. The enemy had crossed the marshes during their first onrush from the Tagliamento, but were held up at the river. Extending south-westward from the Sile is a series of shallow lagoons cut up by mud flats just lifting above the water, their surface covered with seaweed and navigably only in narrow channels known to the boatmen of Venice, which is a_bout fifteen miles away. REINFORCEMENTS IN GONDOLAS. As General Gallieni used the taxicabs of Paris to move fresh troops against the Germans on the Marne, so the Italian commander seized all the gondolas, motor boats and flatboats of Venice, and with their own pilots sent them, full of sharpshooters and machine-guns, through these intricate waterways to the Siie barrier'. The device suceeedeo admirably, and the enemy was held in the delta.

Only one road crosses the marshland from the Piave near the Adriatic coast reaching the Site at Cava zuccherina, whence it follows the eastern bank of the Sile past Piave Vecchia to Capo Sile. Prom that point to Porto Grande, five miles further west, the Sile has been turned into a canal. A small branch of the Piave joins the Sile at its junction with the canal. By opening these waterways the whole delta had been flooded and the enemy cleared out. Within the last threo W|gcks, however, the water has been running low, and the Austro-Ger-mans, pushing along the single road over the marshes, occupied Piave Vecchia, and nearly reached Capo Silo, constructing trenches and dugouts wherever the nature of the groupd permitted. Operations in this sector have been directed fou the last ten days to breaking up these offensive works.

First u great, concentration of trench mortars and machine-gun fire was brought to bear on the lower end of the river positions at Cavazucchcrina, which the enemy was forced to evacuate, losing thousands of men as they retreated under tire. A bridgehead put across the river by Hie Italians at Capo Sile was extended, and 'some enemy trenches were carried in a surprise attack. A strong counter-attack that night was beaten off with heavy Joss to the Austrians. They came back again on vrednesday, but were thrown back after four hours of desperate fighting, leaving 4(51 prisoners in the hands of the Italians. This victory has taught the Austrians that they cannot bring their big guns within range of Venice. That part of the front is considered safe from further invasion. MONTE ASOLONE RECOVERED.

Italihn troops, aided by French artillery, also achieved a signal victory on (lie northern line between the Bretna and the Piave, pushing back the enemy from Monte Asolone, as they did recently from Monte Toinba. On Monte Asolone the enemy had established observation posts looking down the San Nazario valley towards the Brenta and the city of Bassano, supported by artillery on Monte Pertica, two miles to the north-east. From thein positions on Mount Asolone the Austrians occasionally reached Bassano, nearly 12 miles to the south, with their long-range guns. Little damage had been occasioned, but the Italians determined to stop the annoyance, and made a con-'

ported attack with infantry on January 14th, after French and Italian batteries had prepared the ivay by shelling the Austrian positions. There was a light fog partially concealing the movement of the Italians as they started from the valley - through melting snow up the slopes of the mountain. As soon as the movement was discovered the enemy directed a concentrated fire on the advancing columns, but no halt was made until the Austrian positions were reached and their observation posts destroyed. The movement was carried out so quickly that the enemy was unable to bring up large bodies of infantry, and in.offe case more than, half a battalion taken by surprise in their winter quarters in log barracks, was captured. Monte Asolone Avas the last mountain aboA'e 4,000 ft. high in this region, the remaining Jiills being only 3,000 ft. in altitude. Its capture therefore has an important bearing on the campaign.