American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-06-18
AUSTRIANS CROSS PIAyE,
BUT MEET SUDDEN HALT
Allied Troops Holding Invaders and
Express Confidence That All Lost
Ground VIII Be Recovered.

austrian troops fOrced crossing
of the Piave river near Venice, and
claim to have taken $4,000 prisoners
and few guns. The attack has long
zen expected, and the belief is ex-
pressed by the allied strategists that
IL the attack is unsuccessful that
break in Austrian morale will follow
which will not easily be overcome.
Desperation, last hope, is believed to
have prompted the beginning of the
battle, which RACES from the Asiago
plateau to the sea. With the exception
Of the one temporary success near
Venice, the allies clai INTO have check
ed the Austrians and held them at
every point.
The allies claim that not alone are
the Italians and their British and
French comrades in arms holding in
check the Austrian offensive along
the greater part of the 100-mile battle
front from the region southeast of
Trent to the Adriatic sea, but they
have turned aggressors on some of the
more important sectors, especially In
the mountain regions.
Counter attacks in the hill country
in the north at several points have re-
III inc OCCupdtiOn ny tue
of ground won from them in the initial
onslaught and the rectifcation of their
lines while a stiffening of the front
along the Piave river has made inn
possible further fording of the stream
by the enemy.
Hard fighting still is in progress,
with the Austrians bringing pressure
against the allies on both northern
and eastern parts of the battlefield
in an endeavor to gain access to the
plains.
The strokes of the enemy are par
ticularly violent on the Montello pla-
teau, the highest bit of ground along
the middle reaches of the Piave, the
capture of which would give him com
mand of the roads leading through
Treviso to Venice and a fairway west
ward through the province of Treviso.
The Italians are inflicting heavy cas-
ualties on the troops of Emperor
Charles which crossed the river at
this point.
To the soluth from st. Andrea to
Fossalata, respectively, the northern
and southern flanks of the famous
Zenson loop where last year the Aus
trians effected crossing of the Piave,
only later to be driven back with san
culinary losses, and from Fossalata to
San Dona Di Piave the fighting also
is of a violent character. with the
Italians heroically and successfully,
according to the Rome war office,
holding the line of the river.
Between Candelu and the Zenson
loop, where the Austrians crossed the
Piave in Saturdays lighting, the TIA
lians have driven them back to the
river bank and are endeavoring to
push them across the stream.
The, latest Austrian official COM
munication records the gain of addi-
tional ground west of San Dona Di
J. Piave and the capture of the village
of Capo Sile, on the eastern edge of
the Lagoon region in the province of
Venetia, and about 20 miles from the
city of Venice itself.
Thus far the Italians, British and
French troops have made prisoner of
more than $500 Austrians, while the
Austrian war office asserts that 10000
prisoners have been taken by the Aus
trians.
Reports show that the tactics fol-
lowed by the Austrians were similar
to those which brought success to the
Germans in the Somme and Aisne Of
fensives. The enemy advanced, under
cover of a smoke barrage from bombs
and smoke apparatus, in comparative
" small parties. These were directed
against portions of the line believed to
be lightly held In France the Ger
mans succeeded by this method in
gaining the rear of portions of the
zine Which had to be evacuated quickly
by the allies. Along the Italian front
however the foe was not able to pen
citrate far into the allied positions and
counter attacks soon drove him back
to his lines.
Germans May Rush Aid.
NThe result is yet in the balance. Sc
far German troops are reported only
IN one sector on the mountain front
- jut it is not improbable that they will
be dispatched to aid the Austrians Il
they can be spared along the French
front The fact, however, that the
first onset did not result in a virtua
debacle such as ensued when the Ger
mans and Austrians attacked aloni
the Isonzo front last October speaks
volumes for the Italian morale.
LOCAL DRAFT BOARDS