Omaha daily bee., 1918-06-19

In the Alps the Austrians have been
unable further to advance their lines
since their initial onslaught last week.
Everywhere from the Asiago plateau
sector eastward to the Piave river all
their attacks have quickly been re-
pulsed by the allied troops, who. in
their turn, have delivered counter at
tacks, regained lost terrain, inflicted
heavy casualties on the enemy and
taken a considerable number OF pris-
oners.
Fierce Fighting Going On.
All along the Piave river, from the
mountain passes, fierce fighting is
going on, especially on the Montello
plateau; in the region OF the famous
Zenson loop and further south from
Fossalta to the marsh country around
Capo Sile. some 20 miles east of
Venice.
The Italian war Office announces
that the enemy everywhere is being
held along the Piave. On the crucial
sector Of the Montello plateau. which
bars the way from the northeast to
the Venetian plains, the Italians have
strengthened their positions on the
northern edge of the plateau and re-
pulsed two enemy attacks to advance
on the northern border. Likewise to
the south, near Maserada and Candelu,
attempts by the Austrians to effect
new crossings of the Piave were frus-
trated with heavy losses.
Vienna Claims Success.
From Vienna comes variant re.
port. 1t does not concede to the al
lies any gains of ground in the noun
tain region, saying that all their coun-
ter attacks were repulsed. Concerning
the fighting along the Piave, ii asserts
that the Austrians have gained ground
at numerous points and that the battle
is following its intended course. Con-
ISOLATION OF the gains on the Montello
plateau and progress on the southern
wing, which runs from Fossalta to
Mestre, are claimed.
In addition, the Austrian war Office
says the number OF prisoners taken
in the fighting has increased to 10000
and that l20 guns in addition to mine
throwers, machine guns and war ma
terial have been captured. The pris-
oners taken by the Italians Monday
at one point amounted to l,550, which
would bring their total and those
OF the allies we'll in the neighborhood
of 5000.
Unofficial advices are to the effect
that the Austrians have thrown Ia
bridges across the Piave along front
OF about l4H miles between the Zen
son loop and the Conegliano railway
bridge, but that the Italians are heav-
lily engaging the enemy at all points
and have the pontoons under their
gunhre.
Guns Roaring on Western Front.
The infantry operations on the bat
tie front in France continue virtually
at a standstill, but the allied and Ger
man guns are roaring on various sec
tors and it is not improbable that
tghting on large scale will be re-
sumed somewhere shortly. Along the
Ancre, south of Albert and west of
Serre, the British and Germans are
engaged in mighty artillery duels,
while spirited activity is noticeable
along the French sectors near Mont
didier and between Montdidier and
the Aishe. The French continue daily
to regain ground taken from them in
the recent German offensive south Of
the Aisne and also to take prisoners
in their enterprises.
Several attempts made By the
Germans to penetrate the American
lines in the Marine sector have been
smashed by the American machine
o,n FIRE