The sun., 1918-06-23
Premier Orlando Tells 1tal-
ian Deputies Only Local
Fighting Continues.
DEFENDERS GAIN MORE
TwO.thirdS of MOntellO Pla.
teau Again in Hands of
Army of Diaz.
ANOTHER. DRIVE LIKELY
Report That Twelve German
Divisions Are Being Sent to
Replace Austrians.
ANOTHER. DRIVE LIKELY
Special rdbie Despn,ch IN THE su>.

Copyright. 1915: nH rights resev,sd
LONDON. June .2.--The Austrians
are bringing up heavy reenforCements
and the Germans are preparing TO
send large forces to their aid in Italy,
here to-day. Although Premier Or
lando told the Italian Chamber Of
Deputies that the battle has been
won and there has been no offensive
by the Austrans since Thursday he
doubtless referred only 10 the first
phase of the struggle. Opinion here
and in France is that the fighting
Will be resumed soon on Il larger scale
perhaps a larger one than the offen-
sive that began a week ago.
Italian military oOicias also are
strongly Of the opinion that the fight
ing will he resumed soon on large
scale. One report says that twelve
German divisions will he sent 20 Italy
in exchange for twelve Austrian Gi-
visions to be moved to France
The Austrian report tonight asserts
that the number OF prisoners taken
by the Austrans now totals 10000.
The execution OF czecho- -Slovaks who
were captured also is reported offi-
cially.
Italians Reach san AndreR.
The correspondent Of the Correre
della Serd at Italian headquarters tele-
graphs that counter attacks carried out
oy the Italians on the Montello covered
front Of three and a half miles In
fantry advancing from the north, south
and centre broke down the Austrian re-
sistance and reoccuped the railroad
station at San Andrea. on the ou skirts
Of Nervesa. where bitter fighting ragged
in the streets
ON the Montello plateau itscF the fta-
ians greatly enlarged their reconques's
and gradually pushed back the enemy
toward the are formed ny the bend In
the river: the Italians mold The chord
Of the arc.
In the middle Pave sector between
Candelu and Fasare. the Italian re-
action is making i,seN felt still more
energe,ically. pinning the Aus,rians t.
the river bans In the zone OF Fosse;ta
and a,so in the marshes near Capo
tory from the enemy, The salient near
Meolo has been reduced and the line Of
Fussetta has been rewou
Two-thirds Of Ground RcwOn.
Tn" Aus,rans now hold only the
northeast corner OF the Montel!o. the
Italians having reCap.ured two-thirds Of
the territory lost :hcre in the firs, three
iay Of ftyht
that only one bridge nor II Of the Mon
telio has escaped destruction the stua-
ton of the Aus:rians there is serious;
they are unable to feed and reinforce
their troops
Gen, Didz is employing cavalry on
several sectors Of the front which Ia
eager to demonstrate It's usefulness anu
irtrepidjty !, has made superb charges
and gallant raids surpassed only by the
self-saCrif,ring deeds which the Italian
horsemen accomplished last November
when they succeeded frs, in r.tardinK
and then III cuecklns tn. euemy's In.
Nas.on.
4 reg ment Of lancers made DASH
irs charge along the road ON the riaye
oNeirunning five defensive positions and
capturing seNeni% prisoners. three field
guns and three ma a'hine guns. Southeast
on N" MonteIlo ANA uUIth,ss, Of Trcviso
cavalry suuadrons, Ike 50 many demon,
let loose, hunS themselves against the
enemy ranks with lance and sabre do.
ing tremendous execution.
Arditi Aiding Cavalry.
Whenever II IS possible the cavair,.
combines its action vita the Ardti, the
Bold, body OF picked daredevils who
never Ave been known to way.r before
any danger and wro rely on their knives
and hand gIenades FOR offence and de-
fence Each man Of the Aritl runs into
acton holding the strrup of a horse
man until he is among the enemy. when
bombs and daggers are used wltn deadly
effect
The battle has been So sauguinary, es.
pectaly IN the trlausle formed by Meolo
Santa Dona and tapo SIle. that there
are PAGES transformed INTO veritabls
lakes OF blood, Wriie all around are scat.
tered heaps of bode es horribly mutilated,
tes,fying to the bitterness Of the strug-
gle. The roads and dItCnes are lined
with dead and wounded Up TO Wcdnes-
day the Austrian losses exceeded 10000
men.
documents which have fallen into
Italian hands prove the importance Of
tAe enemy reverse. The main Austrian
assaul,lng trools' VINO had crossed the
Pia,e rad received orders to get sun
pies from the Italian depots at Nestra,
but they failed TO reach that point and
have been without food and supplies
since Monday,
The correspondent Of the Nrssngoero
SAYS that rain continues to fall on the
Piavs front. and the foosis are increas-
ms. TRANSFORMING the region into an
immense lake. the waters sweeping away