The sun., 1918-06-22

ROME. June 2l.--Italian forces yes.
terday continued their counter offen-
sve on tho Pinve River front in the
region OF Fagare and Zenson and
gained further ground from the Aus.
tro-Hungarians. the Italian War Officc
announced to-day.
"For the first time" the statement
says. "our airmen and those OF our a..
lies had as their companio daring
American pilots, who as soon as they
arrived at the front wished to par.ici-
pate in the battle
Austro-Hungarian pressure contin.
ued strongly on the Montello yester-
day the War Office announces. but
everywhere the invaders were checked,
and the Italians counter attacking re-
gained ground.
Food Carried by AIrplanes.
The eAustro-Hungarian launched five
heavy attacks on the Italian lines at
Losson, to the west Of San Dona di
Piave. Exhausted by their exception
ally heavy losses the attackers were
forced to retire in the face OF the ltai.
ian resistance.
Austrian airplanes were, compelled to
carry provisions to the Austrian troops
that succeeded IN crossing the Piavs
River and were in danger of starving
owing TO the flood which carried away
their pontoon bridges between Zcnson
and Musi!e. according to a despatch re-
ceivcd here by the Gio,nale dItaiiu
In spite of the difficulties that he IN
encountering. Gen. wurm the enemy
commander, is attempting to press Oh,
but all his efforts are vain in the face
OF the resistance presented by tho
Italian soldier.
Half the Ground RewOn.
ser,-ofIicial note issued tonight
conserving the Austrian offensive says:
The Italian counter offensive l., ah.
SoluiclT superior to the enemy offensive
Yesterday in the Montello region and on
the Tre"iso-San bona di Piave road and
toward the Zenson bend the Italians re.
due" by a good half the ground won by
the enemy in his grand attack on :hs
prsCedinh day.
Statements of prisoners and the num-
'e' VI uctb On lie Hel0 SNOW
that the Austrians lost heavily in the
days fighting,
The attack on l.osson vas carried
out by fresh brigade. composed of the
Fifteenth and Thirty SECOND Srhuetzen
Corps and special detachm,ntS The
Italian counter preparation caught the
enemy while assembling and threw him
into disorder Nevertheless his attack
was delivered and thanks TO the art.l-
lery support. a strong portion got a
footing on the eastern edge OF I.osson
but later was cnyeoped by "A rapid and
brisk counter attack. Eighty men were
captured and the remainder were killed
or Wounded
AT Cortellazzo the check Was equally
costly for the Austrans. Bluejackets
and Bersaglieri succeeded ny surprise
attack in breaking into the third line,
sowing death and terror among the de-
tenders and capturing 200 prisoners. The
dash enabled the Italians to widen their
positions.
NOntelIO Main Objective.
THE Austrian plan becomes palmer
and palmer, SAYS sem-ofiicial note
issued to-day. "The plan is to obtain,
no matter AT what prize. command OF
the Montello. whence they can hurl for
ward the divisions accumulated on the
left bank of the Piave.
Along the MOntebe luna -Suscgana
railroad the battle ragged all of yes'er-
day afternoon and night \ short Sec
ton of the track which the Austrians
captured was covered with the bodieA OF
their dead
Attacks follow one another method
CallN, but slowly. ON account OF the
difficult terrain and the continually
changing lines which prevent both sides
from using their artillery 10 the full
effect. The fine weather is favorable
10 aviation operations and the Italian
airplanes continue to destroy bridges
and to direct their machine guns AT a
low altitude on the enemy troops
"N lull that probably Is only momen-
taiy, continues in the mountain zone.
"M present more than forty enemy
divisions are engaged in the battle line
and of these thirty already have suf-
fercd heavily
Rrp"rt of War OHice.
The statement issued by the Italian
War Once says
On the Montello YESTERDAY the pres
sure of the enemy continued strongly,
but everywhere he was held by our
troops who. counter attacking. re-
game, ground Ad>a!ce. attempted
by the enemy toward the west and
south animated the struggle, part'ru-