The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-06-18
90 AUSTRIAN
DlVlSI0NSARE
IN BIG BATTLE
Million Picked Troops Fail to
Gain the Objective Set for
Drive Against Italy
SLAUGHTER is TERRIBLE
Central Power Armies Ordered
" to Advance Regardless
of the Cost
SLAUGHTER is TERRIBLE

Paris, June 18.-Ninety.twoAustrian
divisions consisting Of 80 divisions of
infantry and IL of cavalry have been
hurled into the greatest battle that
Italy has yet fought, according to an
official announcement at Rome, re-
ceived here through the Havas agency.
Seventy one Of these divisions have al
ready been identified.
The forces engaged comprise three
fourths of the whole Austrian army
and the best troops under the COM
mand Of Field Marshal BOroevic.
The number of men in an Austrian
division is not exactly known but the
number of divisions engaged would in.
dicate that approximately one million
Austrian soldiers have been thrown
into the battle. :. i, *. -, H.
Papers found on officers show that
after forcing the passage of the Piave,
the first days objective. was the Ire.
viso .Montebelluna railroad. In two
days OF lighting the enemy columns
succeeded only in realizing the mini
mum assigned for the first day, &C.
cording to the official note issued at
Rome. sa-9'4 n t
4 But ;one. single allied aviator has
been losty during the, Austrian offens
i've, while "A enemy machines have
been brought down.
I'm artillery and airplanes Austria
is using all her available resources,
says the official note :, "Not less than
$500 cannon Of all calibres have been
brought into action. Three Austro-
Hungarian armies under the command
of Field Marshal Boroevic are engaged
in fifhting desperately with enormous
military means. Ordered to advance
at any cost, without thought OF blood
sacrifices the Austro Hungarian regi.
ments readily obey. Thousands OF
corpses strew the battlefield overlook
ing the mountainous Italian sector and
accumulate along the iPave, but the
detectives which the enemy was to
reach are yet far away"
BITTER FIGHTING.
Italian Army Headquarters, June 18,
Bitter fghting is in progress along
the Piave river The Austrians are
sustaining large losses from the con-
centrated fire of italian batteries. Re-
peated counter attacks are being
made by Italian infantry, inflictine
heavy casualties on the enemy.
STOPPED EVERYWHERE.
Rome, Monday, June lz-ln their
attacks between Zenson and FOssalt
along the Piave the Austrians have
been stopped everywhere, says an OF.
ficial statement issued tonight by the
Italian war office. In the mountain
region and around Montell0 there have
been no infantry attacks by the en-
emy.'
The allied troops have taken several
hundred additional prisoners and some
machine guns.
The statements read
ION the the mountainous front and
around Montello, the enemy did not re.
new his infantry attacks. During the
day successful thrust was carried
out by our troops. We occupied sew.
eral positions, capturing machine guns
and some hundreds of prisoners.
important actions developed south
of Montello and along the Piave in
the zone between Zenson: and Fossal'
ia, but the enemy everywhere was
stopped by our counter attacks. Sev.
Continued on Page EiRht.1