Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-06-18
ENEMY LOSES FIRST
SMALL GAINS WHEN !.
ITALIANS HIT BACK
Fighting RACES Furiously Along
Pave Front-Enemy Cross
ing River Is Thrown Back by
- Ooulll6I ALBUMS i >:

NEW YORK, June 17.-(Summary OF
European Cables to the Associated
Press. although the situation along
the great crescent-shaped battle line in
northern Italy remains somewhat OBJ
scure, it seems that the Austriaps haveI
accomplished little at the inception of
their drive against the Italian and al |,
lied armies. From the lower Piave river
and northward along that stream come
encouraging reports telling of the enemyt
being checked and at some points being !
hurled mack across the stream.
From the Piave to the Brenta, where I
the Teutons advanced through mountain
ravines in their attempts to break
through the allied lines the situation
seems to be well in hand. II
1t now appears that the Austrians
made three successful attempts to cross |
the Piave One was south of Montello
where the battle line leaves the Piave
river and mounts to the westward into
the Alps. One was between Candelu and
Zenson loop, where the Austrians eff I
fected a crossing last November and
held a bridgehead for some time. The
other was at S. Dona di Piave, about
eleven miles from the mouth of the
river. At least some of these forces (
have been driven back across the river, I
while the others have not been able /
early success. 1
Austrian Tactics
Reports of the battle show that the
tactics followed by the Austrians were,
similar to those which brought sue
cess to the Germans in the Somme and
Aisne offensive. The enemy advanced
under cover of a smoke barrage from
bombs and smoke apparatus, in COM
paratively small parties. These were
directed against portions of the line be-
lieved to be lightly held, In France
the Germans succeeded by this method
in gaining the rear of strongly held por-
tions of the line which had to be evacu-
ated quickly by the allies. Along the
| Italian front, however. the foe was not
able to penetrate far into the allied POI
sftions and counter attacks soon drove
| him back to his lines.
The result is as yet in the balance
So far German troops are reported only
in one sector on the mountain front.
but it is not improbable that they will
be dispatched to aid the Austrians if,
they can be spared along the French;
front. Furious fighting is said to be-
continuing and it is probable that harder
blows will be launched by the enemy.
The fact, however, that the first onset
did not result in a virtual debacle, such
as ensued when the Germans and Aus
TRANS attacked along the 1SonZo last
October speaks volumes for the Italian
morale, and late reports give reason for
belief that the blow at Italy is not being
launched with the force that has char
acterized the offensives of the Germans
in France during the last three months. I
5000 Prisoners Claimed
In two days Of fighting Vienna claims
the capture of 10000 prisoners on the
Pave and 5000 in the mountain region.
Fifty guns were taken along the river
front In their counter attacks, begun
Saturday night, the Italians already
have captured 5000 of the enemy.
The Austrians' plan apparently was to I
strike heavily on the north and on the
east at the same moment in the hope /
that on one of the fronts large forces
could be thrown on the Venetian plains
between Bassimo and Treviso. Although |
carried out in great force and with
heavy bombardments the Austrians' ef- 1
fort seemingly has fallen short of its
purpose of shattering the italian front /
and rolling it back toward the Adige. ]
On the front in France the fighting |
activity has been limited to local Ger
man attacks at isolated points. Against
the French, along the Matz river, the
enemy failed.
The Lys salient in Flanders is being {
subjected to heavy German artillery
fire The enemy is paying special at
tention to the front southwest of Ypres,
east of Dickebusch lake and to the west
ern part of the leg of the salient where
the British recently carried out con-
sidera BILE local advance.