STOOD LIKE ROCKS.

Taihape Daily Times, 27 November 1917, Page 3

STOOD LIKE ROCKS.

THE FIGHTING PIEDMONTESE

LONDON, November 8

The correspondent of the Times at Italians, Headquarters telegraphs: The situation is grave, but more hopeful, because order has been restored. The troops are reaching the new line. The enemy's pressure is strong on the right and centre. On their left, a brigade of Piedmontese Grenadiers, an ancient and aristrocratic formation now reserved for men over 6ft. high, (the only Grenadiers in Italy)), stood rocklike when the Austro-Germans were pressed OTI between Pordenone and Portugruauo. The Grenadiers extended along the ground concealed by brushwood and waited under heavy shrapnel fire until the enemy could be swept with rifle fire. The Austro-German ranks having been refilled, they kept coming on in overwhelming waves.

The Grenadiers then rose to their knees, and hurled bombs. Then, upon their last officer's dying command,; they charged with the bayonet, even using their rifles as clubs, until . the last giant was downed. The brigade had been previously heavily handled on the Carso, but was refilled with drafts from the depots.