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Show HE FORCES IN PIE DRIVE Definite Part in Great Offensive Of-fensive for the Central Powers Defeat. ITALIAN "HEADQUARTERS ON THE PIAVE, Monday. Oct. 28. (By the Associated Asso-ciated Press. ) American soldiers are in reserve along the Piave fighting zone. The corresponden saw an American battalion bat-talion going through its "setting up" exercises ex-ercises this morning near the river. WASHINGTON, Oct. 29. American troops are on the verge of active participation partici-pation in the great war on the third major ; front. This was the interpretation given j here today of news from the Italian head-: head-: quarters that Americans are standing In reserve behind the British and Italian , Comes now driving across the Piave. The news is considered significant, not because of the size of the American con-; con-; tingent in Italy or the direct effect it may have on the battle, but because it indicates indi-cates that the Italian drive is a definite part of the great offensive that is rapidly bringing complete defeat to the central powers. It has added meaning to officials here also, since Austria Is now pleading for an immediate armistice. So far as official announcements show, there ure but two regiments of infantry and necessary auxiliary troops in the American force in Italy. These units and any others that may have been sent probably prob-ably will operate us a part of one of the Italian or British organiznt ions when the time comes to throw them Into the line. The same practice was followed in France, where two Italian divisions have been cm-i cm-i ployed at various times on the front as units of a French army corps. |