Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-09-06
ITALIANS BEGIN
GREAT OFFENSIVE
Cadorna Starts Drive against
Austrians on Bainsizza
Plateau.
1,7O0 AUSTRIAN PRISONERS.
Russians Still Retire in Riga Region
md Berlin Claims Capture Of
Coast Defenses.

While the Russians continue their
6ight before the Germans in the region
of Riga, the Italians, after a few days
tof comparative idleness, again have
Eetarted their great offensive against the
kAustrians on the Bainsizza plateau and
20 the northeast of Gorizia.
In the south, however. from the Bres-
/ toxizza valley to the sea the Italians
have been compelled to withstand most
Eviolent counter attacks by the Austri-
ANS, who are endeavoring to hold ba ok
General Cadorna's lines from further
approach to Trieste. This they We're
successful in doing, although the Aus
trians at one place momentarily forced
them to cede territory. A counter at
tack by the Italians not alone retrieved
,the lost position, but resulted in the
capture Of more than 400 prisoners.
IMPORTANT POSITIONS TAKEN.
On the Bainsizza plateau northeast Of
Gorizia the Italians have made further
gains. capturing an important Austrian
position near Ocrogo. No details have
been vouchsafed concerning the battle
which is in progress northeast of
Gorizia, and no confirmation is at hand
of the reported capture by the Italians
of Monte San Gabrielle. the last domi-
mating position held by the Austrians
!
been captured by the Italians in the
fighting in the Gorilla sector.
Again the Italians have sent their air.
men over Pola. the Austrian naval base
IN the Adriatic, dropping bombs. the ex-
plosions Of which have added materially
to the damage done in previous raids.
RUSSIANS FALLING BACK.
In the region of Riga the Russians are
retiring eastward and northeastward all
along the line pursued by the Germans.
The army which evacuated Riga has
crossed the Aa river in Livonia, while
t@he army from the Uxkull region is
astride the -Pskov- -Petrograd rail-
lToad. In the capture of the Duenamuende
fortress at the mouth of the Dvina river
the Germans, 1t is asserted by the Berlin
war office. secured intact the big coast
defense guns.
The war vessels which were reported to
be shelling the Riga coast line. and
which, 1t was thought, probably might
be covering a landing of troops to cut
off the retreat of the Riga army. were
submarines-probably craft which were
reported earlier as operating in ada
cent waters in company with torpedo
boats. destroyers and mine sweeping
trawlers.
ARTILLERY ACTIVE IN WEST.
The operations on the western front in
Belgium and France continue to be carried
tout mainly by the opposing artileries, al
though the British are still making trench
Taiding excursions or warding off small
enemy attacks. Two rather strong attacks
against the French front the Cali.
1ornie plateau on the Aisne front were
Hepulsed by General Petain's forces.
Reciprocal air raids continue to be car
ried out by British, French and German
airmen at points far behind the fighting
line. German aviators again have dropped
bombs on French hospitals, this time II
the region Of Verdun. Eleven persons wer,
killed and So injured in Tuesday night.
aerial attack by the Germans on the south
eastern English coast.