Omaha daily bee., 1918-06-18
'Austrians, Disregarding Heavy
Losses, Continue Efforts to
Cross Piave River, but
Are Held Back.
{ BY Associated Press. J

At several points along the
front, the italian statement
says, the Austrians Disregard
ing their losses, continued their
endeavors to cross the Piave
river, but the Italians are
bravely holding their positions.
More than> A 500 Austrians
have been made prisoners by
the French, British and Ital-
ians.
The text Of the Italian state
ment reads: "On the Asiago
plateau and on Monte Grappa
the enemy, who had on June
Is suffered heavy losses, limit
ed his action yesterday to hii-
dering with intense fire the
counter offensive push Of our
own and allied troops, who.
however, were able at several
points to gain partial successes
and to rectify our line. ]
"Along the Piave the battle
went on with extreme violence.
The enemy. needless Of his
losses, continued his powerful
pressure in order TO extend his
occupation on the Montello
and open the way to the plains.
Our troops have strongly en-
gagged the enemy on the line Of
Ciano, the Montello crest and
st. Andrea.
ALLIES WIN LOST, GROUND.
Counter attacks in the hill country
in the north at several points have
resulted I'M the occupation BY the al
lies Of ground won from them in the
initial onslaught and the rectiication
of their lines, while stifening of the
front along the Piave river has made
impossible further fording of the
stream by the! enemy.
Hard fighting still is in progress,
with the Austrians bringing pressure
against the allies. on both northern
and eastern parts of the battlefield in
an endeavor to gain access to the
plains.
The strokes of the enemy are par
ticularly. violent on the Montello pla-
teau, the highest bit of ground along
the middle reaches of the Piavc, the
capture Of which would give him com-
mand of the roads leading through !
Trevizo to Venice and a fairway
westward through the province of
Trevizo. The Italians are inflicting
heavy casualties on the troops of En-
peror Charles which crossed the river
at this point
Italians Holding Line.
To the south from St. Andrew to
Fossalata, respectively, the northern
and southern fanks of the famous
Zenson loop, where last year the
Austrians effected crossing of the
Piave, only later to be driven back
with sanguinary losses, and from
Fossalata to San Dona Di Piave the
fighting also is of violent character,
with the Italians heroically and sue
cessfully according to the Rome war
Office, holding the line of the river.
I Between Candelu and the Zefsons :
loop, where the Austrians crossed the
Piave in Saturdays fighting, the Ital-.
ians have driven them back to the
river bank and are endeavoring to
push them across the stream.
The latest Austrian official CONF
munication records the gain of addi-
tional ground ,west of San. Dona Di
Piave and the capture of the village
of Cape Sile, on the easteh edge Of
the lagoon region in the province of
Venetia and about 20 miles from the
city of Venice itself. q
Heavier Fighting to Come.
Thus far the Italians, British and
French troops have made prisoner Of
more than 4,500 Austrians. The AUS
trian war office asserts that 1900
prisoners have been taken by the /
Austrians. ...
Although the fighting has died down /
considerably in the mountain region,
it is expected soon again to be re-
stunned with Increased violence. En-
peror Charles is reported to be at the
front and thousands of reinforcements
for the armies are said to be moving