The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1918-06-21
MANY Prisoners Are Taken in Big
Battle.
ENEMY LOSSES ARE HEAVY
Official Rome Statement Says Thou
sands of Austrian Corpses Are
Strewn Along Battlefield
SMALL Gains by
Foe.

Piave, between FOssalta and Camo
Sile, where the AustrianS are being
held, the war office announced.
North of Monticello the Italians
strengthened their occupation of the
river line as far as Casa Serena.
On the eastern portion of the AsiagO
plateau, the Italians retOOk the RazeO
and PizzO heights and captured 300
prisoners.
Gain Along Page.
London, June 19.-With their second
line penetrated in the crucial battle
along the Piave river, the Italian
armies stemmed the Austrian rush in
this sector.
At all other points along the 100
mile front of attack they either had
launched cOutner-Offensives or had
fought the invaders to a Standstill.
The Austrian losses are described as
terrific.
An official italian statement says
thousands of Austrian cOrpSeS are
strewn along the Piave battlefield.
Piave Vital Point.
1t is along this line, held by Italian,
French and British troops, that the
final fate of Emperor KarlS ambitious
attempt to put Italy out of the war
will be decided. All signs are favor
able to the allies.
In the earlier fighting during the
day the AustrianS drove forward at
the extreme ends of the Piave line and
menaced both Italian TANKS in the
river region.
At MontellO the enemy advanced
four miles and occupied two-thirds of
the high ground.
The occupation of the crest of the
mountain, which was the Austrian OBJ
jective, would have turned the whole
Piave line. The Italian successes re-
ported have eliminated this danger.
In the marsh land of the lower Piave
the AuStrianS advanced on the 15-mile
front between ZensOn and the sea to
the depth of three miles at several
points, reaching the Italian second
line. This. thrust, direct move upon
Venice, apparently has been definitely
checked.
From captured documents and the
statements of prisoners there is no
doubt the enemy command sent it's
troops into the offensive with the
promise of booty.
Foe Bridges Pave.
The Austrians, according to the Eve
ming Standard, now occupy the west
bank of the Piave from the COneglianO
railway to the ZemSOn bend, d dis
lance of mile and half. They have
thrown IA bridges across the river.
These. however. are under the Italian
fire.
The failure of the Austrian offensive
in the mountains, the most critical
sector, is shown in Italian official state
mentS.
1t is believed that the Italians have
every prospect of restoring the posi-
tons on the Piave.
The British held the post of honor
in the mountains, and how well they
rose to the occasion is proved by the
remark of Il correspondent that 'the
results of the enemy attack suggest
that it was the British who carried
out the most successful offensive"
The Austrians undoubtedly hoped to
sweep into the plains and crush Italy,
but the latter's achievement in resist
ing the first onslaught is assurance
that she is capable of defending her
position.
Foe Claims $4,000 Captives.
Vienna, June 19.-The number of
prisoners taken so far in the drive on
the Italian front is 10000, the war
office announced. The total of guns
taken is 100 On their south wing the
AuStrianS have reached the FOssalta
canal, the statement says.
Rome June 1S.-Italian troops, in
conjunction with their French and
British allies, began cOunter-offen-
sive against the Austro-Hungarian
forces which had launched an attack
on the Italian mountain front.
The Italian and allied troops were
able to gain partial successes and to
restify their lines at several points
along the front.
1920 Austrians Captured.
The Austrians, disregarding their
losses, continued their endeavors to
cross the Piave river, but the Italians
are bravely holding their positions.
Prisoners taken from the beginning
of the fighting amount to more than
40 officers and 4,500 men of other
ranks, including 716 captured by the
British troops and 261 by the French.
Italians Hold Line.
Rome, Juen 1.-THE Italian forces
are firmly holding the Asiago front. &C
cording to the war office announce
ment. They have completely reoccu-
pied their original positions on Asolone
and Monte Solaroia and are closely
pressing the enemy who crossed the
Piave.
The Austrians were ambushed at