Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-06-16
START OFFENSIVE ]
EARLY SATURDAY
ALONG ENTIRE LINE
Premier Orlando Says I'VE
Are Resisting Magnifi-
Gently Everywhere"
FIGHTING DIES DOWN
IN WESTERN THEATER
British Score Successes in Raids
in Flanders Near :ies.3
as,Asns: :@Ef Ill
NEWS FROM THE FAR EAST
Ten Thousand Muscovites Destroyed
on Coast of Sea Of ,,seS,,
AZov. .SEEEf%s
:" r' - ":E~3NNf3 d
FIGHTING DIES DOWN
IN WESTERN THEATER
NEWS FROM THE FAR EAST.
Ten Thousand Muscovites Destroyed
on Coast of Sea Of .s1Ssr
AZov. S[T8sE4.

The beginning OF great onens1S0
is indicated in tho official communic8-
tion from Austrian headquarters, which
says :"Gunfire increased to great tn-
tcnsity on many sectors of the south
west front early this morning. -
"On the Albanian front new Frencn
attacks which were carried ont yester-
day northwest of Sinaprente broke
down" ~
The Austrians began a great ofrens
sive at o'clock Saturday morning ON
the front from the Asiago plateau TO
the sea.
This announcement was made In the
Chamber OF Deputies at Rome yester-..
day by Premier Orlando. who added:
Our troops are everywhere resisting
magnificently. Nearly the whole of tho
front is engaged, as the offensive eE-
tends with extreme violence from
Astico to tho Brenta, from the Brenta
everywhere, involving the Astico pla-
teau. the Mount Grappa sector and the
plain"
Premier Orlando declared that tho
Austrians had failed to achieve even
the preliminary results which usually
followed crushing offensive. s.s
mier said: "A very violent bombard1
ment began at 3 o'clock, and at z
o'clock an infantry attack was launched
which has reached me summarizing the
situation at, oGlocls is that our troops
have offered magnificent resistance"
REPORTS DISCLOSE
ARTILLERY CLASS
The official report from the italian
War Office speaks of the growing In
tensity OF artillery fire from the
LaEarina Valley to tho sea. This In
cludes a part of the mountainous coun-
try and the line along the Piave River.
When the Austrfans concentrated forces
on the Italian front following their
| withdrawal from Russia 1t was be-
lieved that an attack against Italy was
impending. When this blow was not
struck it was said that the reason for
the delay was the Internal conditions
in Austria. Later It was stated that
the Austrian offensive had been held
In abeyance until after the success or
failure Of the German offensive In
France was apparent The German
drive, while it has gained tactical po-
sitions. has not brought about de-.
csive result. ~
The last great Austro-German offens
sive. begun in October. 1917, rolled
back General Cadorna's line from the
lsonzo front and along the Venetian
plain. More than 100000 enemy
troops participated In this operation.
and it was not for many weeks that
the Italians were able TO stay the ad.
vance About the middle OF November
the Piave battle began along a ninety-
mile front in Northern Italy, aud
French and British troops were hurried
to re-enforce the shaken italian army.
The crisis was passed about the first
of December. and since that time there
has been heavy fighting in which the
Italians and their allies carried many
successful counterattacks. There have
been insistent cries from Germany for
Austrian action along the italian front
to coordinate with the German ofren.
sive In the western zone, and for months
past the Italians have been preparing
for just such blow as apparently tis
now being struck. The italian army
has been re equipped and General Diaz
has succeeded General Cadorna as the
comma ndcr in chief
FRENCH AND BRITISH
UNITS WITH ITALIANS
The Italian front from the Swiss
frontier TO the mouth OF the Piave Is
$50 miles long. At last accounts'-a
certain number OF French and British
units were still with the Italian armies,
and IT is not believed they have been
withdrawn 8Nce the western offensive
began Considerable Italian forces,
however. have gone TO the west OF late,
General Diaz. the Italian commandsr
according to ali recent cable dispatches;
is thoroughly prepared 10 meet the
Teuton onslaught.
In Eastern Russia" says War
Office statement at Berlin, "a Russian
band 10000 strong advancing to at
tack General Won Elchhorn's forces ut
Taganrog. on the Sea of Azov. was de.
stroyed." 4.rA
This is the first time In months that
n German War Office statement In
cludes q portion OF what used to be 4
the eastern front. The occups tion, eos
Azov marked the end OF the eastern
German advance along the Black Sea
littoral ssBs
General Knoerser. in a telegram TO