The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-01-30
STRONG POSITION AND 1900 PRISONERS TAKEN IN BATTLE Berlin Official Statement
 Admits Defeat on This Part of Line |12 AUSTRO-GERMAN AIRCRAFT DESTROYED This Victory Is of Especial Significance as Enemy Was Reinforced
ny inc Associated Pres.

Fly the Associated Press
 Notwithstanding the fact that deep snows still cover the ground, she Ital- ians have carried out successfully s spectacular drive against the Austro- German lines in the mountain region of northern Italy and captured strong positions and more than 1500 men.
 The blow was delivered on the Asiago plateau sector and the enemy positions penetrated were tcnaciously held despite strong counter attacks, In which the Austro-Gcrmans were re- pulsed with heavy casualties. The Ber- lin war office. in admitting the re- verse to the Teutonic allied line. as- serts that the Italians repeatedly tried to bring up endorsements to widen the breaches they had made in the enemy front, but that their efforts failed and 800 Italians were made pris- oner.
 That airplanes aided materially in the fighting, full details of which have nor yet been received, is indicated in the Italian official communication, which asserts that during the progress of the battle the enemy lost 12 aircraft.
 The victory for the Italians at this particular point is of considerable sig nificance. because of the fact that lately since the enemys strong attempts to break through from the hill region to the Venetian plain failed around Monte Tomba and sectors west. the Austro-Ger- mans have been bringing up reinforce ments in the Asiago district preparatorv@ to further series of attacks to reach the low lands around Bassano and vicenza.
 Aside from this battle no important infantry operations have been recorded. although the Germans have been orer- ating with their artillery on somewhat extensive scale on the Arras front and have carried out raiding operations On several other sectors of Field Marshal Haigs line.
 Monday nights airplane raid. the first of the year. on London and adjacent territory, resulted In the largest casualty list of any air raid since that of June 13 last The total casualties were 4g killed and 169 injured Forty-six of the fatalities occurred In London, where i62 persons were injured. Bombs were dropped by the invading enemy in Kent and Essex, but slight material damage was done. One of the arplanes, a three seated machine. was brought down in flames from T height of 10000 feet and all three of its occupants were burned to death.
 In the June raid 97 persons were killed and 4s7 were wounded by bombs which fell in London and on Essex and Kent.
 RUSSIAN SITUATION
 Just what is the situation in Russia remains obscure. One report asserts that there has been a split among the boi- sheviki on the question of peace on Ger mans terms, and another that Leon Trotzky, the bolshevik foreign minister, intends to return immediately to Brest- Litovsk for resumption of the peace conversations with the Austro- German delegates. Still another Petrograd dis patch says Trotzky has reiterated to the council of workmen's and soldiers delegates that the bosheviki will in- sist on a democratic peace. One Petro- grad journal declares that Austria-H Hun gary already has offered to conclude q separate peace with Russia, regardless of Germany.
 The breach between Russia and Ru- mania meanwhile is broadening. In ad- dition to severing diplomatic relations with the little kingdom, the bolsheviki have ordered the seizure of Rumania's gold reserve on deposit in Moscow
 DETAILS FROM FINLAND Scant details have come through con- corning the situation in Finland but reports indicate that the red guard is in control at Hesngfors. where rev. olutionary manifesto has proclaimed that authority is solely in the hands of the working classes.
 The supreme war council. with dele gates representing the United States, Great Britain, France and Italy in att tendance. has convened at Versailles France. The plans of the military cam. paign of the entents allies and of ths United States forces are expected to bs discussed.
 Serious strikes are reported to be in progress thi oughout Germany. In Der. lin and suburban towns so,ooO workers are said to have quit work. Various large manufactures engaged in the man. ufacture of war supplies. especially air. planes. are affected. Independent social sts are reported to have taken an ac- tive part in the calling of the strike The German government has decided to order the arrest of six leaders or tnis party.
 Fatal Eggnog Party