Evening star., 1918-07-01
ITALIANS ATTACK
AND GAIN GROUND
Gen. Diaz ForestaIIs Aus
trians by Launching a De-
.termined Offensive.
TAKES MONTE DI VALBELLA
TAKES MONTE DIVAL BELLA
By the Associated Press,

By the Associated Press.
West of the Brenta, Gen. Diaz, the
italian commander. is preparing for
eventualities by Strengthening his
line as the opportunity offers. East
Of Asiago. Italian troops have re-
occupied the height of Monte di VAL
bella. capturing 500 prisoners. Strong
enemy attempts to retake the height
were hurled back.
Nearer the Brenta the Italians took
thirty prisoners. gaining a fortified
point on Sasso Rosso. Vienna says
the Italians were thrown out of the
Austrian first line on Monte di VAL
bella and that further attempts to
advance were checked.
Carries Fight to Foe.
These two actions. while local I'm
character. may explain the failure Of
the Italians to pursue the Austrians
across the Piave when, on June 2S,
the enemy fed from the west bank
with a haste that indicated some
thing of decentralization.
heaviest enemy blow to be launched
along the mountain front. which is
the key to the whole Italian situation.
In attacking there himself. he has
carried the fight to the foe, gained
strong positions at vital points and
made by the enemy for an offensive
in that quarter.
It is hardly to be believed that Gen.
Diaz plans to go further than local
detectives. but II he should make
he could be able to take under his
artillery fire the railroad paralleling
the battle line and running along the
Brenta river east of Lake CaldonaZzo.
This line is the connecting link be-
tween the Piave and Adige fronts.
and II the Italians could dominate it
the Austrian system Of communities
tions would be seriously impaired.
Rome Report Of Fighting.
ROME, June 3o.-Italian forces, sup
ported by allied troops. attacked Aus
Hungarian positions on the Italian
mountain front Saturday and captured
Monte di Valbella after bitter strug-
gle. The Italian war Office announces
that more than 500 AustrotHunga-
rians were taken prisoner.
Strong enemy counter attacks
throughout the day and night were
repulsed by the fire o fthe Italian in
fantry, artillery and machine guns.
The text of the official statement
reads:
"On the Asiago plateau. where our
heroic resistance on June IA crushed
preponderant enemy forces and where
in daily acts of bravery Italian troops
have become united in action and in
glory with the British and French al
lies. fighting yesterday began anew.
"At dawn our troops, sustained by
an intense artillery fire and supported
by sortfes resolutely carried out by
their allies, attacked Monte Di VAL
bella and succeeded. after a bitter
enemy. During the day and night
large enemy masses were launched to
counter attack and to slaughter, but
were repulsed by our infantry and
decimated by concentrations Of artil-
lery and machine gun fire from air.
toriously held by US.
Men and Guns Taken.
"Twenty-one enemy officers and 7ss
soldiers of other ranks. belonging to
four different divisions, were made
prfnsoner. Cannon. trench mortars
and numerous machine guns were cap
tured.
Further east. between the Frenzela
our parties took by assault a well for
titled observation point on the south
ern slopes Of Sasse Rosse, capturing
two officers and thirty-one men.
"On the remainder Of our front our
artillery carried out effective and
harassing bombardments. At Capo
sile patrol operations brought us some
prisoners. In the Lagarina and Su-
bana enemy railway establishments
were bombarded by our airmen."