The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-05-23
Further Advance Impossible,
Declares Rome Report.
Ali Higher Mountains Are For
titled by Italians.
SERIES OF VICTORIES
Austrian Offensive Has Swept
All Before 1t.
Bringing Up Big Guns Taken
From Warships.

Rome MAY 23.-The AuStrldhS
have transferred to the Italian front
u number of 3S1 and APO m1lllmeter
guns. The latter cannon have oeen
itaken from the battleships Whlch
have been bottled up in the naroor
COT Pola since the beginning OF the
sxzar The detonations of these fam
Gus cannon seem 10 actually spht the
ALPINE peaks, causing frequent ava
Ranches. But in spite of the terrific
bombardment which is going on day
and night and the reckless -expendi-
ture of ammunition by the Austrians
ttheir further advance seems impos-
sil5le in view OF the positions which
the Italians hold tenaciously.
Il Conf Zugua, peak 5000 feet high
(which dominates Rovereto and the
eArsea valley, is strongly held by the
italians. On the high plateau of Ar
.siero the Austrians occupy only the
epeak of Spitz Tonezza, 5000 feet high
s All the other surrounding high noun
7tains are in the hands of the Italians
7Fs,rhe greatest effort is apparently d1-
Erected against the Asiago plateau, east
of Arsiero. where desperate fighting
4 is going on
Gives Account of Campaign.
Berlin, May 23.-By Wireless to
Sayville-The following account of
recent operations on the Austro-ltal-
Jan front was given out today by the
sOverseas news agency.
I'm the southern Tyrol before the
s. present offensive moment was lnstl-
tuted the Austro- Hungarian front
ran from the northern end of Lake
Garda to Moria, southwest of Revere
ito along the Terragnola valley to
1.-THE southeast edge OF Folgeria plateau,
ito the east edge of Lavarone plateau.
Through the Sugana valley to the west
of Borgo, across Mount Colo and
thence to the northeast. On May IA
1.-THE Austro-Hungarian artillery be
came active at many places along this
front.
Early on the morning of May 5
j. Austro-Hungarian troops were able to
advance at several places in the sec
tor from point below Rovereto to
the eastern edge of Folgaria plateau,
on account of the excellent results
obtained by the artillery The first
italian positions were taken with very
"A smell loss for the attacking troops
and 500 Italians belonging to one of
the new regiments formed during the
winter were captured. These men had
arrived recently at the front.
Took $500 Prisoners.
"In the Terragnola valley the enemy
resisted tenaciously at several places,
but by evening his resistance was
broken. At many places the Italians
were driven far beyond their hrst line
positions. In this days fighting there
were captured IS officers, more than
500 soldiers, three cannon and two
machine guns.
ION May 6 the attack was renewed
along the whole line. The Austrians
captured a position on the eastern
END of Fclgaria plateau, which, &C
cording to an Italian order, a copy OF
which was found, was designated as
one of the chief points of resistance
to be defended to the utmost. In the
Terragnola valley points of support
(which until that time had been de-
fended stubbornly, were captured.
-'Austro Hungarian forces there ad-
panced everywhere on May II. They
captured territory to depth of seven
kilometres (more than miIes.)
Crossed Border Into Italy.
AT some points the victorious
n troops crossed the Italian frontier and
at other points they advanced close tc
the border.
"In order to appreciate the signifi-
canoe of these successes it must be re.
mem bered that the fighting is coins
on in the mountains on ground vary
Ding in altitude as much as loo
metres per kilometre. The mountain:
are still partly covered with snow an6
the transportation of supplies is ex
eeedingly difficult