The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-09-15

Reinforcements Aid the Teutons
in Holding Their Positions
North of Gorilla.
HARD FIGHTING FOR MOUNTAIN
Monte San Gabrielle Has Changed
Hands Several Times Recently
Quiet on West Front

Washington, Sept. THE Russian
and Austro-Italian theaters continue
the centers of interest in the world
war. In the former the Germans are
still pressing the Russians in their re-
treat from the Riga region; in the
latter the forces of General Cadorna
continue to harass the Austrians, but
with the enemy offering stout resist
ance on the major sectors north and
northeast of Gorilla and along the
Carso Plateau.
The Italian commander-in-chief,
General Cadorna, continues his reti-
cence concerning the operations he
has in view against the Austrians, his
latest communication merely annoulc-
ing the continuation of the heavy
fighting northeast OF Gorilla and the
repulse on the Carso Plateau, south
of the Brestovizza Valley, of strong
Austrian counter attacks. From the
Austrian war office statement, how
ever, the situation regarding Monte
San Gabrielle, which was reported IN
officially Wednesday to have been
fled. This eminence, the last point
in the Austrian line dominating Co
rizia, did fall into the hands of the
Italians, but the Austrians in violent
counter attacks reoccupied it. Sew
eraI times since the position has
changed hands and at last accounts
the AustriaRs were still in possession,
but with the Italians fighting violently
to take it. On the Carso Plateau,
south of the Brestovizza Valley, where
Bavarian troops appealed for by the
Austrians doubtless have REINFORCED
the Austrian line, counter attacks of
great strength have been thrown, but
unsuccessfully, against the Italian
front
Quiet an West Front.
The western front in France and
Belgium remains virtually quiet, e1-
cept for artillery duels On numerous
sectors, trench raiding operations,
aerial raids and fights on the air be-
tween opposing aviators.
A renewal of activity on the Mace
DOMAIN front is recorded in the latest
French official communication, but
this also is. being carried out to a
large extent by the artillery. The
duels are particularly spirited on both
sides of the Vardar river
Italians Resume Drive.
Washington, Sept 6.-The Italians,
after few days of comparative idle
ness, again have started their great
offensive against the Austrians on the
Bainsizza Plateau and to the north
east of Gorilla.
In the south, however, from the
Breslovizza Valley to the sea, the Ital-
iaas have been compelled to with
stand violent counter attacks by the
Austrians, who are endeavoring to-
hold back General Cadorna's lines
from a further approach to Triest.
The Austrians at one place momen-
tari1y forced the Italians to cede ter
ritory. A counter attack by the Ital-
ians not alone retrieved the lost po-
sition, but resulted in the capture of
more than four hundred prisoners.
No confirmation is at hand of the
reported capture by the Italians of
Monte San Gabrielle, the last dominat-
north of Gorilla Nearly seventeen
hundred men have been captured by
the Italians in the fighting in the Go
rizia sector.
Active in West.
The operations on the western front
in Belgium and France continue to be
carried out mainly by the opposing ar
tilleries, although the British are still
making trench raiding excursions or
warding off small enemy attacks. Two
rather strong attacks against the
French front on the California plateau
on the Aisne front were repulsed by
General Petain's forces
Russians Still Retreat.
Petrograd, Sept. 6.-The official
statement reads: f'In the direction Of
Riga our troops, having crossed the
Livonian, River IA, are continuing q
retirement along the coast of the Gulf
of Riga in a northeasterIy direction.
In the region of the Pskov road and
| the River "A the enemy, continuing
| his offensive, reached the crossings of
the River "A near Abrant and below
Nuremberg fifty Yersts (about 80
miles) from Riga"