Piave River
BATTLES OF THE. the city. Its flow is regulated by a numthe Gulf of Venice, a few miles west of portion is too wide to be crossed except by ferry or bridge. some of the most desperate fighting on the Italian front during the war against Austria-Hungary and Germany; particularly during the year 1917. In The Piave Valley was the scene of October of that year the Italian lines were advanced as far as the Tyrolean, ter part of that month, the Austrians, heavily re-enforced by armies from the some of the most desperate fighting on command of the Teutonic forces. By October 26 the Italians were in rapid retreat, losing territory which had cost against the Italians, beginning along the front, began a strong offensive Izonzo front, von Mackensen being in Two days later the Italians were driven back on the Tagliamento river. them months of effort and hard fighting.
French re-enforcements were hurried them months of effort and hard fighting. retreat, losing territory which had cost October 26 the Italians were in rapid command of the Teutonic forces. By So PIAVE RIVER BATTLES ance. For a week the Italians made a stand on the Tagliamento, but it then became evident that further retreat was inevitable.
Realizing this, the Italians hastily began building a line of defense along the Piave river. By Nov. 7, 1917, the Austro-Germans had crossed the Livenza, but now found themselves facing a solid line of Italians, intrenched along the further bank of the Piave. It was at about this time that General Cadorna, who had been in command of the Italian armies since the beginning of the war, was relieved of his command and replaced with General Diaz. Reaching the Piave, the Austro-Germans continued their terrific onslaughts, but were held in check by the Italians, along the lower Piave. In the upper Piave Valley, however, Austro-Hungarian troops still continued to press the Italians back, where Asiago was captured, this town being some twenty miles west of the Piave. Along the lower Piave, from Susegana to the mouth of the river, a distance of about forty miles, the Italian troops held firm.
On the upper Piave the Austrians continued to make steady gains, where they succeeded in taking Belluno, on Sept. 10, 1917, together with Vidor and its bridgehead. Here, and during the two days, till September 12, the Austrians claimed to have taken 12,000 prisoners.
On November 12 the Italians recoiled on the Austrians, on the Asiago and successfully checked the Austrian advance, along a front reaching from PIAZZA From now on the Italians held their ground, and now ensued one of those extensive battles, lasting four weeks or more, which were so peculiarly a feature of the great war. Day by day the line of battle blazed continuously, one side gaining here, losing there, but the general result being a deadlock. Again and again the Teutons attacked, were repulsed, and then were called upon to resist stubborn counter-attacks by the Italians. Day by day positions changed hands frequently, but there was no longer any continuous forward movement on the part of the Teutonic offensive.
Toward the end of December the French and English contingents began to participate in the fighting. On December 16 the English launched a furious assault against the Austrian positions on Monte Fontana Secca, but were driven back by the enemy machine gun fire. On December 30 both the French and English delivered a series of assaults which gained them some important positions on Monte Tomba. Here the Teutons suffered some further losses during the middle part of January.
During the latter part of the month the Italians made some positive gains, succeeding in pushing the enemy back from the Piave, up as far as Asiago. Down along the lower Piave the fighting during January, 1918, became again furious, gains, succeeding in crossing the river at several points. But nowhere were these successes extended; everywhere they shrivelled up before the determined and the Teutons made some temporary Italian counter-attacks. It now became Monte Gallio to Meletta di Gallio. On obvious that Venice and the Italian plains would be safely held against the the lower Piave the Austro-German forces also made a strong attack, but Austro-German offensive, which by this succeeded only in breaking through at one point, about twelve miles from the mouth of the river, and twenty-three miles northeast of Venice. Here the Teutons made a crossing in boats, but were driven back by the Italian counterattacks.
On Nov. 13, 1917, the Italians suffered several local defeats, losing Primolano, on the upper Brenta, and Feltre, on the middle Piave. At the mouth of the Piave the Teutons again succeeded in crossing and gained a slight foothold on the western bank. This leak the Italians were however able to check and prevent its widening. Further attempts to strengthen this latter gain were made by the Austro-Germans next day, but the Italians seemed now to have recovered their morale to a considerable degree, and the Teuton attacks were severely repulsed. Another attack along the upper Piave was frustrated by the Italians by opening the floodgates. time showed plainly that it had passed its maximum strength. The Italian command had no doubt been taken by surprise at the beginning of the offensive, and, being unprepared for so terrific an onslaught, had had to give way over considerable territory. But what the Teutons had gained in mere territory, they had more than lost in the tremendous expense of man power. It was one of those mighty efforts which distinguished the German method of warfare, but in its final purpose it was a complete failure. Not a little did it, and the Italian defense, contribute to the eventual defeat of the German forces which culminated in the armistice in the fall of 1918.