The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-06-21
Struggle Desperate.

Rome. June 21.-From the Montel-
10 to the sea the battle of the Piave
river Is continuing bitterly and with
out pause, the Italian war office an
nounced.
The Italians forced the invaders to
withdraw their whole front north Of
the Montebelluno railway.
The AuStrians, says the statement,
launched q fresh attack on the Piave
with strong forces and succeeded at
first in gaining some ground in front
OF Zenson. Later Italian reserves
we're brought up and forced the Aus
trians to retire.
On the Asiago plateau the Italians
have captured Costalunga, while the
French have stOrmed two Austrian pO-
sitions The Italians have captured
1889 prisoners and the French 102,
The text of the italian war office
is appended:
"From MOntello to the sea the bat
lie is continuing bitterly without a
pause We drove the enemy back to
the north of the MontebellunO railway
and made him withdraw his whole
front of attack somewhat toward the
northeastern salient of the Monticello,
capturing 1926 prisoners and taking
numerous machine guns.
along the Piave river the struggle
is fluctuating fiercely on the front line.
1t is being carried out by the enemy
with decision and hardness and sus-
tanned by our troops with great stub
bornness and bravery.
"The enemy launching to the attack
fresh and numerous troops, succeeded
at first in gaining ground in front of
Benson, but he was promptly checked
and afterward was forced to retire by
our reserves which Immediately arriF-
ed.
Our troops, with energetic counter
attacks, succeeded in greatly reducing
the fighting sector to the west Of San
Dona di Piave. Prisoners to the num-
Der of 513 remained in our hands.
"Czecho- Slovak units have valiantfy
given their first tribute of blood to
the generous principles of freedom
and independence for which they are
fighting on our side. The twenty-fifth
infantry division, in the course of five
days of glorious fighting without q
pause, the Bisagno brigade and the
209th and 210th regiments were able
in repeated counter attacks to bring
out all their valOr.
From dawn to sunset our own and
allied airmen and the seaplanes of
the Italian royal navy We're all active
in chasing and not allowing the enemy
TO approach our lines for observation
OK for other aims. Our machines car
ried out bombardments, attacked the
enemy with machine gun fire and par
ticipated uninterruptedly and effective
ly In the battle.
Fourteen enemy machines were
machines were brought down. One of
our airmen did not return
"On the Asiago plateau French units
by successful surprise operation car
ried the positions of Bertigo and Pen
mar, capturing 102 prisoners"
Italian military officials learned be-
fore the Austrian offensive began,
says a semi official note, that the Aus
TRANS had dressed Italian-speaking
soldiers in Italian uniforms To throw
them at q suitable moment into the
entente allied lines SO as to provoke
panic and disorder
Captured Austrians so CARRIED were
executed after a drumhead court-mar-
tial in accordance with the laws of
war
Among the Austrians captured June
II was one dressed as an Italian lieu
tenant and another was In the uniform
of the Bersaglieri