The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1918-06-27
BEAT
AUSTR|ANS BACK
INVADERS DRIVEN EAST OF THE
PAVE RIVER WITH BIG
LOSS OF LIFE
GERMAN PLANS UPSET BY THIS VICTORY
Excellent Fighting Ability OF Allies
Spurs Italians On To Redoubled
Efforts To Defeat Enemy

The wonderful fighting ability shown
by the Italians in their defense of the
Piave river line has filled the hearts
of all the Allied forces with renewed
courage. The excellent morale of the
armies in Italy is indicative of the
fact that a new spirit has driven out
the fear that got into some of their
hearts just before the other big Aus
trian drive. In this battle the Italians
have shown that they are in the fight
to stay and to stay for victory. The
repulse Of the Austrians has developed
into a rout. great numbers of slain
are reported all along the Piaye river
and a goodly number Of prisoners
have been taken. One regiment Of
1000 Austrians was reduced during the
fight to SO men and these surrendered
after all the officers were dead. The
fight on the Montello plateau was even
more sever and the invading troops
WCiC Suiioullutu III pldCtS anu idl &c
attachments captured eat a time. One
correspondent reports counting 800
dead enemy in walking a half mile.
The heaviest losses We're sustained
on the lower Piave where the swollen
river cut off retreat and left nothing
but death for the survivors Of the bat
tie. Large stocks of wal material
have been left behind by the Austrians
in their flight and the rOut has become
so complete that in bunch of six
teen prisoners taken at one time, sew
en- different regiments were represent
ed. At no time have the people of
Venice been disturbed about the out
come of the battle and today they
tory that has saved their beautiful
cit, tom ruin.
The situation on the western front
continues much the same though the
Allies have been improving their po-
sitions all along the line by sorties
that are made to improve conditions
for fighting. The artillery firing has
been kept up by the Germans, but
they have failed to follow up their
heavy firing with infantry attacks.
The general opinion on the front
among those in command seems to
be that the Germans will make two
drives simultaneously, one on the
British positions and the other south
where the line is held by Americans.
If the past is any indication Of the
future, then their efforts will prove
even more futile than did the attack
of two weeks ago. Every report from
fronts held by our own boys is to the
effect that they are showing a wonder
full spirit and going into their attacks
with a vim that surprises the enemy.
Italian troops are on the western
front and Secretary Baker promises
that early in July American soldiers
will be fighting with the soldiers of
Italy. The people Of that country are
anxious to see boys from the land Of
promise side by side with their men
and the effect will be to give more
strength to the morale OF the already
victorious Italian army.
The whole situation on the fighting
front is better than it has been for
some time, but that does o mean
that a proper peace is sOon to come.
We have a long and hard fight yet to
make and America must keep on until
the desired end is reached. This is
the expressed opinion of the best war
experts and is given direct from the
front in the latest dispatches.