The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-06-19
Foe Has II Bridges Across
River. hut Is Held
There.
GAINS BY THE ALLIES
Advance Made on Northern
Ed ge of Vital MOntcllO
Region.
FRENCH RAKE ENEMY
900 Austrian Dead Buried in
Front Of One Rcgi-
ment.
GAINS BY THE ALLIES
FRENCH RAKE ENEMY

PARIS. June 1S.-Rome reports to.
night that the violence OF the great
battle in which the Austrians are try
ing to break through into the vene-
tian plain has diminished in the vital
mountainous sectors, but has in
creased along the Piave River, or
eastern battle line.
Th" Austrians now OCCUPY appar-
emily the right. or west. bank Of the
river from the Conegliano railway to
tho Zenson bend. Tremendous fight
Ing is in Irogress in this sector, but IL
the Austrians are advancing at all it
is with extraordinary slowness.
The invaders have thrown fourteen
improvised bridges across the river
and evidently plan to cross in force,
hut all these bridges are under the fire
of the Italian artillery and so far the
situation seems to he under control.
The Italian infantry is in strong force
IN this district and amply provided
with reserves. The real danger point
seems to be on the Montelo, the north
ern part Of the battle front. where
'wo-thrds Of the rising ground is now
IN possession OF the Austrians.
Heavy Attack ON French.
One o. the heaviest attacks of the day
was delivered against the Fr.rcf sector
on the Asago plateau. Just west OF the
Monteiio region. After a heavy bonn
oardment Ile Aus,rians attacked in
mass but the French guns cut them
up dreadfully: the assault was broken
Up and the French maintained thai.
line completely
PRISONERS were taken. important ma
ter'a' was captured and considerable
|, losses were inflicted on tho enemy. SIX
hundred o-Hunsarian dead w.r.
buried in front OF one French regiment
! MS IS the fist mention OF the French
IN this region
Inc o'..cia! statement from Rome to-
"isht reports Il at the Italians made
! som" gains on tie northern edge ~ ,b.
! Monteilo region and strengthened their
position as far az Casaserena on m.
river. An intense struggle is in proe-
!tss all the way from Fossalta 10 rano
SNe '
The number OF prisoners taken bv ,b.
me Vienna statement makes few claim,
OF DEFINITE advances. hut asserts that th.
hummer OF prisoners taken has risen to
SC, 200 "
Most Vital Month.
discussing the wa" situation the Cor.
'r're deHa Scra OF MILAN saws:
This month is the mos. vita, I,
y history Wi. nlI
all Italy. Every Italian soldier mas, hs
nred bN the glorious example of Capt.
'"~Ho' VINO almost unaded. dealt such
" terrible blow to the Austrian fleet"
'he correspondent a. the front de-
S'r'nes the fierce tigh:nS which is going
on increasingly around Monte Grapp,.
particularly for tho possession OF no.
Sl'iohS leading 10 IT and those DOM
mating the gorSes OF the Bren,a River
lhtre rs no uneasiness among the in
habltants thus far. but a few peasants
nave been seen along the roads scekin..
new homes further from tho scene OF ths
battle. While Venice feels the mensc.
those who have remained In the cit,
aoont 10000 in all. have become accus-
toned TO air raids. war dangers and IN.
sound of artillery fire. So there ma,
been no exodus from Venice Of late.
Obj~ctINes Of Offensive.
Additional light on the Austrian often.
HNe mas beeh iuihished by some of TN.
1000 prisoners captured According :,
their testimony the Austrian division,
operating on the Asiago Plateau had "a
their objective for the first day the plai,
between MarosiiCa and Rassano: tho
Monte Grappa divisions were ordered IN
take the plain between Castelfranco and
\solo, and the Piave troops were told
TO invest TreNiso
Tho second phase Of tho battle Is en-
ceptionally violent. A bridgehcal ba,
been established by the Austrians on
the lower l'iavc The Italians continue
10 resist heroirally the ouslaughts or
twelve diNisions, WhiCn constantly ara
beng 'sp'enish"d by reserves conceu-
'rated between Susogana and Coregliano.
The mass attack between Montello and
the Piave Is being carried out by TWENTY
fre FIRST line divisions and eight reserve
divisions
Tho enemy has concentrated al Fon-
zaso. behind the line on the northern
front long columns OF German csmions,
with which they expected 10 carry of
the booty they hoped to nnd,
81 Enemy Divisions In Battle.
Ninety tH-tw" Austrian divisions, COM
siSting ot cignty divisions OF infantry
ana iwciN" Of cavalry, have been hurled
INTO the greatest battle that Italy has
Yet fought. according TO an official an.
rouncement At Rome received here
through thr iiaNas Agency. seventy
- Il ,,..,,. .iu
idcnt fed.
The forces engaged comprise three.