The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1918-06-18
AUSTRIAN DRIVE CHECKED
Italians, British and French Not Only
Check Austrian Offensive, But Are
AggressOrs at Many Points
Austrians Driven Back
Across Piaye River.

Rome, June 17-Not only are the
Italians and their British and French
comrades in arms holding in check
the Austrian offensive along the great
er part of the hundred mile battle
front from the region southwest of
Trent to the Adriatir sea, but they
themselves have turned aggressors
on some of the more important sec
tors, especially in the mountain reg
ions.
Counter attacks in the hill country
on the north at several points have re-
suited in the occupation by the Allies
of ground won from them in the ini-
tial onslaught and the rectifcation of
their lines, while a stffening of the
front along the Pave river has made
impossible, for the time being at least
further fording of the stream by the
enemy.
Hard fighting still is in progress
however. with the Austrians bringing
the strongest kind of pressure to bear
against the Allied armies on both
northern and southern parts of the
battlefield in an endeavor to reach the
lines and gain access in force to the
ilains.
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 Piave, the
capture of which would give him COM
mand of the roads leading through
Treviso to Venice and fair way
westward through the province of
Treviso. The Italians are inflicting
heavy casualties on the troops of Em'
peror Charles which crossed the riv-
er at this point.
To the south from st. Andrew to
Fossalata, respectively the northern
and southern flanks of the famous
Eenson loop where last year the Aus
trians effected a crossing of the Piave,
only later to be driven back with SAN
culinary losses, and from Fossalata
to San Dona Di Piave the fighting is
also of a violent character with the
Italians heroicly and successfully, ac-
cording to the Rome war Office, hold
ing the line of the river.
Between Cendelu and the Zenson
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 communication
records the gain of additional ground
west of San Dona Di Piave and the
capture of the Village of Cape Sile, on
the eastern edge of the lagoon region
in the province of Venitia and about
20 miles from Venice itself.
Thus far the Italians, British and
French troops have made prisoners OF
more than $500 Austrians while the
Austrians war Office asserts that 12,-
900 prisoners have been taken by the
Austrians.
Although the fighting has died down
considerably in the mountain region,
II is expected soon again to be resum-
ed with increased violence. Emperor
Charles is reported to be at the front
and thousands OF reinforcements for
the armies are said to be moving
southwark. The Allied commanders
are expecting vicious fighting. believ-
Ing that owing to the turmoil and po-
litical unrest In the dual monarchy,
the Austrians must make a good
showing In order TO temper the feel
Ing against the war at home.
There still has been no return 10
the heavy flghiing Of last week on the