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Show ITALIAN v TROOPS RETAKE PLATEAU Roman Soldiers Fight Way Back to Positions on Asiago Top, From Which They Were Driven by Attack of Aiistro-Germans. PRISONERS TAKEN IN FIERCE BATTLE Contradictory German Reports Declare That Attacks Were Repulsed and Boast of Prison-y Prison-y ers Taken in Other Operations. - ROME, Dec. 25. In a desperate battle which lasted all day yesterday, the Italians Ital-ians fought their way back to the positions posi-tions from which they were forced the previous day on the Asiago plateau under Austro-German attack, according to today's to-day's war office statement. Some guns and numerous machine guns which, had , been abandoned by the Italians in their retlromcnt were recaptured when the old j positions were reoccupied. The slatement reads: "On the Asiago plateau the battle, which continued fiercely and sanguinarily the whole of yesterday, diminished In intensity only at nightfall. Our counter-attacks made several hours before da.wn, succeeded suc-ceeded In spite of the difficult terrain and the very low temperature in arresting the enemy and carrying the fighting on to the positions from which we had moved the previous day. j "The enemy defended the ground gained with grea I stubbornness, countering our counter-attacks and concentrating in front ; of Ills line o formidable fire from numerous numer-ous batteries. "During t ho vicissitudes of the fierce struggle some batteries and many machine ma-chine guns which had been Jeft in the destroyed de-stroyed lines were recovered." "An enemy column advancing from Bertico toward the heights to the west of Mulga Costalunga, was destroyed by .our fire. "A battalion succeeded hi wresting from the enemy and holding for some time the summit of Monte Val Bella, while other detachments having ascended t he slopes Col del Koeco, engaged the enemy under v th summit of the mountain In heavy -hand-to-hand fighting. k "During the action hundreds of our guns of all calibers unceasingly bornliarded the enemy troops, dispersing concentrations behind the line and stopping the advance of supports. We took a number of pris-t4 pris-t4 oners." BRITISH TROOPS HAMPERED BY RAIN IN ITALIAN SECTOR LONDON, .Dec. 25. The first statement by the British war office dealing with the Italian front, where British troops now occupy a sector, was issued last night. The text reads: ' Since a portion ,of the Italian front was t alien over by British troops there has been no change In the situation on the British front. There has been active counter-battery work and our airmen have given good accounts of themselves, but have been hampered by unfavorable weather during the last few days. "Some snow has fallen and the cold is severe, especially In the mountains. The health and spirits of the troops are excellent," ex-cellent," Today's statement issued by the British war office concerning the ' Franco-Belgian front reads: "We took a few prisoners In night patrol encounters south of Cambrat. There was considerable reciprocal artillery fire last night west of La Bassee and east of Ypres." BERLIN REPORT IS THAT TEUTONS HAVE RLtULSED ATTACKS BERLIN, Dec. 25. via London. Italian counter-attacks upon the nositions taken in the Austro-German attack of Sunday were repulsed yesterday. as whs an Italian drive at Monte Pertica, army bead-quarters bead-quarters announced today. More than pnOt) prisoners were taken in the Col del Rosso fighting, says the official sta te-incut, te-incut, which reads: ' "Italian front: A lively artilleiy duel continued throughout thn day between Asiago and the Brenta. Enemy counter- (Continued on Pas Xwo.) Ill TROOPS RETAKE PLATEAU I (Continued from Page One.) attacks against our newly won positions and thrust at Monte Pertica were repulsed. re-pulsed. The number of prisoners captured cap-tured as a result of the engagements around Col del Rosso has increased to more than 9000, including 2Tti officers." Army headquarters today issued the following fol-lowing official statement: "Western thea ter: In isolated sectors the artillery active revived in support of reconnoitering actions. There was increased in-creased firing throughout the day on the east bank of the Meuse (Verdun front). ; "Eastern theater: There is nothing nev j to report. "Macedonian front: An enemy attack j on the Bulgarian positions north of Lake Doiran broke down. On the Struma plain j there were lively forefield engagements." j |