The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-06-24
FOUGHT TO LAST
Austrians Struggled on With
Courage of Despair.
On Lower Piave the Fighting
Was Thru Jungles.
THE pave IS NOW GOING DOWN
Name of River "Written In
Blood on Austrian Hearts"
Venice Lies Calm Like Sleep
ing Beauty.
THE PAVE IS NOW GOING DOWN

(By the Associated Press.)
Italian Army Headquarters, Sunday.
Tune 24.-Cruelly harassed by steady
and accurate artillery fire, compelled
to face bayonet attacks by the Italians
and being constantly bombed by allied
ayiators, flying low in defiance OF ma
chine gun ana dnti-aircra1t 1lre. tne
Austrians have been fighting recently
with the courage of despair. Local
counter attacks have been launched
without regard for losses. against the
allied trenches on the Montello pla-
teau, but have been everywhere proK-
en- by the granite resistance interposed
to the foes progress.
Piave Now Failing.
The crest of the Piave river flood
passed yesterday but the falling wa
ters came too late to relieve tho posi-
tons of the Austrians. The inunda-
ton went sixteen feet above the low
water mark.
Fighting in Jungles.
Along the lower Piave Italian pres
sure has been constant. The tired
enemy has been given no rest, altho
the fighting has been intermittent ow-
ing to the fact that neither side has
been able to see more than fifty yards
thru the heavy bushes and tall swamp
grass growing in the lowlands.
"OTu IlaNC "AAttCll III AAOONA'
The heroic deeds of the Italians In
the fighting upon the Carso plateau,
east of the Isonzo, are recalled by the
repeated examples of valor and en-
durance shown in the present strug-
gle. With the Italian armies along
the front there is only a stern inten-
ton to do or die There is no effer-
vescent Boosting. no victory chants but
a realization that harder fighting may
yet come. 1.-THE word 'Piave' is being
written in blood red letters on Aus
trian hearts, said a dust covered.
sweat-stained italian officer, who has
been fighting every day for a week
with scarcely any rest save for the lull
Friday and Saturday in the mighty
contest for the banks of the river.
Saving the Shouting.
I'VE are saving the shouting until
Austria's plumber expedition is de-
feated," said 70-year- old Deputy Ban
Ghetto, VINO is spending his time as
an Alpine officer tramping to and fro
among the soldiers telling them Nlat
victory is the one way to secure peace
Venice Is Calm.
Behind the lines the civil popula-
ton is undisturbed, there being but
few refugees. The cities are calm
Venice appearing like sleeping
beauty. The American colony there
has been reduced to a handful con-
sisting of the American consul and the
Red Cross and Y. M. C. A. workers
Americans There.
=, On the main land, however, Ameri-
cans are becoming more plentiful due
to the influx of Red Cross helpers and
officers of the American military mis-.
sion. The third hospital units of the
American army under command OF
Col Ebert E. Persons, have arrived
The American aviators in their jaunty
uniforms with the golden flying eagle
are attra citing most friendly attention
They are regarded with smiling eye.
even by the toughest soldiers at the
front such as the trench cleaning ar.
diti