Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-06-22
ALLIED DEFENDERS
WIN BACK GROUND.
ON MOUNTAIN LINE
Italian, British and French
Troops Have Advantage
in This Region.
BIG BATTLES RAGING
ALONG PIAVE FRONT
Enemy Again Attacks on Mon
tello Plateau, but Meets
With Repulse.
U. s. AvIATORs PARTICIPATE
Hunger Continues to Cause Trouble
for Armies and People of
Austria-Hungary.
U. s. AvIAToRs PARTICIPATE

The barrier the Italians and their
oattle area from the Asiago plateau
TO the remains insupcrable to tho
Austrians.
The operations by which the enemy
mountain peaks in the Alps and across
the Piave River to the plains CT ve-
netia thus far have met with almost
signal failure. Where the enemy was
able IN the mountains to press bac;u
slightly tho allied defenders of the
front in the first day of their offensive,
the ground has been regained; where
he crossed the Piave River and an
parcntly was threatening the plairs
with invasion. he now Is being sorely
harassed at every point by th. Itll-
sans.
The battle is not stalemate. In
the mountains the Italians, British
and French troops seemingly have the
upper hand; along the Piave, from the
Montello plateau to the mouth of the
river, east of Venice, the Italians, not
withstanding vicious thrust by the
enemy here sand there. apparently are
gaining the upper hand.
INVADERS MEET STRONG
RESISTANCE ON PAVE FRONT
Little fightinE OF moment is in prog
ress in the mountain region. but all
along the Piave. battles OF great vio-
lence arc in progress. with the in
a. u.hI Ioh
they had not counted and being steadily
pressed back toward the western bank
of the now turbulent river. which has
swept away many OF their pontoon
bridges in the center OF the line. leav-
ing them in a rather precarious pre-
dicamcnt. Fresh rains have forced the
river we'll out OF its banks. and the
question of sending Austrian re-cn-
forcements to the western side or con-
veying food and military supplies to
the men already on the border OF the
plains has become critical ono.
Hoping to alleviate the situation, the
.AuStrians again have delivered attacks
on the Montello plateau. the keystone
10 the plains. but. like previous thrusts.
they net with repulse. Between the
Treviso railroad bridge and Henson
loop. the Italians have pressed back
the enemy closer toward the Piave.
while at Losson, near the Fossetta
Canal. enemy attacks wore repuiced.
Farther down the stream, a short dis.
tance from where 1t emnties into the
Adriatic Sea. the Italians. In a daring
assault north OF Cortcllazzo. pierced
the enemy front. took zoo men prisoner,
and firmly held their sroun1 against
q counterattack.
AMERICAN AlHMEN
PERFORM DARING FEATs
In the violent air lighting thar is
in progress all along the front, Amer
lean aviators have joined the allied
airmen and are performing daring
feats. Among II. enterprises carried
out by them has been the bombing OF
pontoon bridges thrown by tho enemy
across the Piavc.
Empty stomachs continue to play an
important role. both with the Austro-
Hungarian armies and the people in
side the dual monarchy. Prisoners
taken by The Italians are noticeably
i'll fed: trouhious times prevail In the
cities and towns in the empire and
Kingdom because OF the lack OF food.
The people, even officials, are declared
to be At their wits end in endeavors
garian Premier is said to have told
Parliament that the Kingdom has only
one-fourth the food necessary to main
tain the people in health. and that IL
would be hard to hold out until the
new harvest is garnered.
LITTLE FIGHTING IN
OTHER WAR THEATERs
Except for the Italian theater. little
lighting is in progress. Southwest OF
scissors. near Faverolles. and l!ttle
farther south. near Hautvesnes. the
French in more OF their daily attacks
have bettered their positions and
taken prisoners from the Germans. In
the regions of Arras and Albert the
British likewise have made gains. and
also repulsed German attacks near
Merris. on the Flanders front.
The German official communication
records the repulse of an American att
tack northwest of Chateau-Thierry. In
the Marne region. and asserts that the
Americans suffered heavy losses. This
refers to the fighting of
Thursday in the Belleau wood, where
the Americans advanced, their iineS