The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-05-18
AUSTRIAN
HORDE IS
SW00PING
ON ITALY
100000 Center Force on So
Mile Front.
Big War Interest Swings to
New Battle Line.
ATTACK ALPS STRONGHOLDS
War Experts Say Austrian Or
fensive Can't Succeed.
Italian Frontier Forts Acme OF
Engineering Skill.
FRENCH TAKE GERMAN FORT
War Experts Say Austrian Or
fenSive Can't Succeed.
Italian Frontier Forts Acme OF
Engineering Skill.
FRENCH TAKE GERMAN FORT
Capture Position on Verdun
Front After Severe Fight.
Austrian AerOpIanes in Series
OF Raids Near Venice.

Amsterdam. May 1S.-Three hun
dred thousand Austrian troops con-
centrated on a 35-mile front, are
striking against the Italian line in the
Tyrolese Alps in the most determined
Austrian offensive against Italy of the
war.
The official dispatches transmitted
from Vienna contain no hint as to
the exact nature of the operations.
Several Berlin military critics init
mated today that the Austrians are
developing a great offensive and are
bent on the invasion of northern Italy.
The fighting has spread eastward
from the Adige river valley across the
Alpine peaks and rocky plateauS. The
Italians have been driven southwark
on a five-mile front extending from
Piazza to the upper Astico valley. The
Vienna war office claims the capture
of Zignatorpa, south of Rovereto,
though the Italian war office reports
the repulse of heavy Austrian attacks
at this point
Bodies Float Down River.
The losses in the three days of Sc
we're fighting have run well into the
thousands The Italian official dis
patch reports that many enemy bodies
have been swept down the swiftly
flowing Adige river.
The military critic of the Berlin
Morgen Post, declares that the Aus
trian victories apparently are of more
than local significance.
For some time it was known that
heavier fighting was beginning along
the whole 'front.' said the Berlin crit
ic. The entire front from the Isonso
to Lake Garda has been set in action.
The Austrian attack in Tyrol has ap-
parently developed on a wide front.
Austrian trOOnS IN
this one victory more than the Italian
forces have in a year for the Italians
at no time have succeeded in cap
turing Austrian positions on a 25-mile
front"
Italians Quit Advance Positions.
Paris. May 1S.=The attack launch
ed by the Austrians against the Ital-
ian front in the southern Tyrol which
has gradually extended to the entire
Austro-Italian front is being followed
here with close attention. 1t is gen.
orally believed in military circles that
the great Austrian offensive which has
been expected for some time has at
last begun. No Importance is attach
ed to the falling back of the Italian
advance lines which is considered a
strategic move as they were not strong
enough to resist an attack on a large
scale.
Italians Fully Prepared.
French military authorities are sat
isfied that the Austrians are doomed
to failure. It is pointed out the Ital-
ians have made every possible prepa-
ration for just such an attack as the
present anr that the most powerful
defenseS engineering skill could devise
have been prepared on the Asiasc
plateau and in the mountains north
west of Arsiero. It is on tins line thai
the Italians are expected to make
their real stand in event the Austrian
continue to push their offensive.
Heavy Fighting at Verdun.
Paris, May 1S.-Several attack:
were made by German troops on the
Verdun front last night in an effort
to capture a redoubt at Avocourt. The
official statement of today says the
Germans were repulsed each time and
that they lost heavily.
French troops after severe fighting
captured a German fort on the north
east slope of Hill 3O4.
Air Raids Near Venice
Rome, May II, via Paris. May IS.-
An official dispatch from Italian head
quarters at Udine reports that Aus
trian aeroplanes are displaying great
activity and have made several attacks
on towns in the vicinity of Venice Il
is stated that these attacks hav,
caused insignificant material damage
that no lives have been lost and nc
military results accomplished.