Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1918-06-20
ITALIANS HOLD
gs2
LINES INTACT
ON BIG FRONT.
More Than 5000 Austrians Are
Taken Prisoner.
ALL POSITIONS ARE RETAKEN
Rome Declare Diaz's Troops Are Pur-
suing Teutons Who Crossed the
Piave Vienna Reports
10000 Captives.

~ Rome June 18.-Italian troops, in
conjunction with their French and
British allies, began a counter -Offen7
sive against the AustrO-Hungarian
forces which had launched an attack
on the Italian mountain front.
The Italian and allied troops were
able to gain partial successes and to-
restify their lines at several points
along the front.
4,620 Austrians Captured.
The Austrians, disregarding their.
losses, continued their endeavors to
cross the Piave river, but the Italians
are bravely holding their positions.
Prisoners taken from the beginning
Of the fighting amount to more than
12O officers and $500 men of other
ranks, including 716 captured by the
British troops and POI by the French.
Vienna Reports Gains.
Vienna, June 1S.-The number Of
Italian and allied prisoners captured
by the AustrO-Hungarian forces in
their new offensive on the northern
Italy front has been increased to r.
600 the Hungarian official
statement issued Monday says.
The AustrianG have captured CapO
Sile, on the southern end of the Pfave
line and on ths west side of the river,
and also have captured ground to the
west of San DOna Iii Piave, the state
ment adds.
Italians Hold Line.
Rome, Juen 17.-The Italian forces
are firmly holding the AsiagO front, ac-
cOrding to the war office announce"
ment. They have completely reoccu-
pied their original positions on AsOlone
and Monte SOaroia and are closely
pressing the enemy who crossed the
Piave.
Austrians Are An1bushed.
The AuStrianS We're anjushed at
the Seven Communities (Sette Com
munD and were compelled to evacuate
the captured territory, according to
an admission in the Austrian state
ment.
10000 italians Captured.
London, June 1.-THE crossing of
the Piave river ana the capture of
10000 prisoners was reported from
Vienna as the initial success of the
first few hours Of tlie offensive against
Italy.
In sharp contradiction came 4 state
mCnt from the Italian war os;Cc that
the armies Of General Diaz had sue
cessfully witnessed the enemy on
slaughts along IL front of nearly one
hundred miles and had taken prison
er more than 1.0O0 AUStrians.
French and British cortinGcHts, hold
ing important sector; Of the italian
front under attack, played leading
parts iii repuising the Austrian attack.
The British war Office reported that
the British forces thrown back Satur-
day under the first impetus Of the
Austrian charges had launched a bril-
liant cOunter-attac; With the dawn.
Recover Loat Ground.
They recovered all the ground, 800
Austrian prisoners, two large noun
tain cannon and Il number of machine
guns.
The italian line, Stretchln9G TO me
British left, was holding firm, accord
ing to the statement, which described
the great battle rs still continuing
with terrific violence along the entire
line of the Piaye, on the eastern end
Of the MontebelIo heights and astride
the Brenta valley.
Hold Foe, Is Order.
Italian Headquarters in Northern
Italy, June 17.-"HOld at any cost"
is the word that has been passed to
the Italian troops as the Austrian of
fensive appears to develop all along
the line of III miles with the use Of
gas and special liquid bombs and
every other means Of attack to weak
en- the defense.