The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-05-16

where th,. Germans have attacked in
force after an all night artillery strug
gle. Today's official statement says
that the French are maintaining all
their positions.
The attack is on front of fouf
kilometres.
Along the Aisne there was an ar
tillery battle during the night" the
statement said.
Early this morning the Germans
launched powerful attack On a front
of four kilometres in the region of
Moulin and LaFaux. Despite their
efforts. The French held all their pc
sitions. The battle IS still continuing.
AT Auberive. Avocourt and Berry
eu-Kopf, German attacks also failed
In Haul Alsace, the French clear
ed up German trenches, imprisoning
many"
London. May 16.-12:06 p. NJ
The British campaign in MesOpotamia
where a series of important victories
over the Turks have been won is now
almost at a standstill- The following
official report from the Mesopotamian
front was issued today:
Tho no important operations have
occurred since the beginning of the
month. we have secured 136 prisoners.
including 20 in skirmish near Deli
Abbas."
Italy Scores Victory.
Rome, May Is, via Paris, May 16.-
Italians today in inaugurating their
drive on the Isonzo front. The for
eign official note in regard to these
operations was given out here tonight:
The offensive action now being
developed on the Julian front. which
was announced in today's statement
was preceded by vast, intense and
methodicaI military preparation. Fire
was opened on the morning of May IL
along the whole line from Tolmino to
the sea. 1t was maintained with a
regularly quickened rhythm until the
morning of May II when it was in
tensified to a powerful drumfre.
During the first part of the bonn
bardment, the enemy reacted feebly
1t seemed as tho the Ausrrians had
been taken by surprise but their reply
was more vigorous on May IS and ex-
tremely violent on the morning of the
14th. Austrian batteries then opened
a heavy curtain fire. pouring thou
sands of projectles on the trenches in
the Italian line.
Make Brilliant Charge.
'Cndeterred by this tempest of fire
the Italian infantry towards noon
leaped over the parapets and dashed
-resolutely forward towards the OBJ
iectives previously assigned-> These
positions were almost all difficult ones
and some of them hitherto had been
regarded as impregnable; such. for in
stance, as the heights on the left bank
pass. The steep slopes, covered with
rocks and dotted here and there with
thick clumps of brush constituted 4
formidable obstacle to an infantry ad-
vance. Successive lines of trenches
prepared months ago above deep cav
erns. we'll supplied with defensive and
offensive material, were defended by
seasoned troops and protected by bat
teries placed so as to flank attackers
with their fire.
Notwithstanding these conditions
the Italian infantry advanced and still
continues to advance. Valuable posi-
tons have been won and prisoners are
flowing into our concentration camps.
Continuous Air Battle.
Our aviators co-Operated with
great effect by hold and ceaseIess
scouting, by skillful regulation of the
artillery fire AMI bombardment IF
depots and conveys and b. brilliant
combats with Austrian airplanes."