The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1917-08-21
FOES LINE
BENDS Under
SHARP SMASH
OF ITALIANS
Austrian Forces Are Thrown
Back Along Isorzo Front
r m e Predicts Decisive
Victory.
10000 PRISONERS HELD
(By Associated Press)


The Austrian line along the Isonzo
front is beginning to bend and give
way at various points under the fur
ious attacks of the Italians, Rome an.
nounces officially.
The Italians are making progress
toward success which, the statement
says, is becoming delineated in a spirit
of diminished resistance by the Aus
trians. More than 10000 prisoners
have been taken in the new battle of
the Isonzo and strong Austrian de-
fenses have fallen into the hands of
the attackers.
Seldom during the war has an Of
ficial communication been worded in
such confident terms and unless the
Austrians are able to rally their shat
tered forces, developments Of far
reaching Importance may follow
quickly.
Canadians Attack Again.
Canadian troops around Lens in
northern France, made another attack
early this morning. Germans who ad-
vanced at the same time made hur-
ried retreat on encountering the
Canadians. Few details have been re-
ported of the subsequent fighting
which developed into one Of the most
desperate hand to hand struggles.
On the northern Russian front in
creasipg activity is reported. The Ger
mans are bombarding heavily the Rus
sian trenches west of the Riga-Mitau
railroad.
Villages Are Taken.
The new Russian offensive on the
Caucasian front has resulted in further
victories. Capture of series of VII
lagos south of the Pelnir-Balumer sec
tor Is reported by the Russian war
office. --,.-..-...--. . .a
The Turks made an attack in the
direction of Kharput and gained initial
successes but subsequently were ex-
pN'led from the captured positions.
British aviators, who have been
making frequent attacks in Belgium,
carried out another bombing expedit-
ion Sunday night They dropped many
tons of explosives on military object
ives, the British Admiralty reports.
All the airplanes returned safely.
The German reaction to the sue
cessful French stroke at Verdun came
last night and the new French line
stood firm in the face of counter at
tacks of extreme violence.
On the front north of Verdun espec-
tally at Avacourt wood and north of
Caurieres, the fighting was particu-
larly bitter. The French war office
reports the Germas beaten back, with
heavy losses.
The number of prisoners taken by
the French now exceeds 5000
The Germans also returned to the
attack on the Aisne front, striking at
Cerny and Hurtebise Paris. reports
the repulse of these assaults.
Use Flame Throwers.
On the French front the Germans
last night made their third attempt to
recapture positions recently wrested
from them near Epehy, northwest of
ST. Quentin. determined attack was
made in which the Germans employed
flame throwers but were repulsed COM
pletely.
Heavy firing continued on the south
ern Rumanian front. The Russians
and Rumanians are offering a stiff
resistance, but, Petrograd reports Of
ficially, they have been forced back
further at several points.
AustrO-German troops reached the
southwestern outskirts of the impor-
tant Moldavian town of 'Oona. rs miles
southwest of the provisional Rumau-
ian capital, Jassy. In the direction of
Fokshani, the Germans took the of
fensive along the railroad, advancing
on both sides of it. A counter attack
west of the railway resulted in resto-
ration of the Russo-Dumanian posi-
tions.