, 1918-06-27
Austria's Great Offensive in
North Italy Proves to Be
an Utter Failure.
STOPPED WITH HUGE LOSSES
Revolt Spreading Fast In tho Dual
kIngdom-Powerful German At
tack On Reims Completely
RepuIsed-Draft Age Linn
IL to Be Extended.
BY EDWARD W. PIckARD.


Austria's record of never winning
the Germans was magniicently sus-
tanned last week. Starting the long
heralded offensive with nearly all the
forces at his command, Field Marshal
Won Borevtc made a desperate effort
to force his way across the Piave and
down into the Venetian plains, with
Treviso, Bassano and then Verona as
his detectives. His men were given
postcard maps with the route and
schedule marked, and were urged to
DO their utmost in order that they
might get the plentiful food in the
promised land" Approximately a
million Austrian soldiers assailed the
italian lines from 4Asiago to the Adri-
attic, but King Victor Emmanuel's
splendid army was everywhere ready
t meet them. At the western or
mountain end the enemy made no
progress at all, being moved down
In masses that fairly blocked the road
ways and passes. All attacks on the
Asiago plateau, which Is of great i'm
portance because of its easy ap-
proaches from the Austrian side,
were beaten off by the British under
Lord Cavan, and the enemy's attempts
on Monte Grappa were no more sue
cessful. 1t was between these points,
down the Brenta and Frenzela val
leys, that the Austrians hoped to push
the west point Of a pincer's move
ment that should flank Treviso and
the entire line to the coast.
-, The high land at Montello was the
scene of most sanguinary fighting and
the enemy made some Roadway there
for a day or two, but gained little save
a shocking casualty list. Further
east, at various points, the Austrians
were able to force crossings of the
Piave by means Of bridges construct
ed under cover of gas and smoke
Smelling, but after getting across the
troops found themselves in traps
from which they could not escape
with their lives, for the batteries of
the allies on the higher ground had
them at their mercy. Only near the
extreme eastern end of the line, be-
tween the Zenson loop and the Adria-
attic, did Borevic's forces achieve any
thing that resembled success. There
they pushed far enough south Of the
Piave to reach the Fossalta canal,
and Vienna claimed this was crossed.
Here the enemy was about ten miles
from Venice, but the resistance of the
Italians was SO determined that no
anxiety was felt for that city's safety.
Before the week closed the enemy in
that region had been driven back.
Most. Of the pontoon bridges were
swept away by the swollen Piave.
In a word, the great Austrian offen-
sive, up to the close of the week, vas
an absolute failure and was admitted
to be such by captured officers and
by some of the Vienna newspapers.
The Italian army, never in better
condition than now, fought with the
utmost %gallantry and spirit, and was
ably aided by the British and French
contingents. Mention must be made,
too, Of the Americans, for an esca-
drille Of American aviators. trained in
Italy, went to the front n gave
notable help in driving the Austrian
aviators from the air.
Ia
Defeat in Italy may mean absolute
disaster to the Austro-H hungarian en-
pire, for its heterogeneous peoples al
ready are beginning to rebel against
the rule that has brought them TO the
verge Of starvation, has claimed the
lives Of hundreds Of thousands Of
their men, and has given them moth
ing but false promises of victory. In