The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-06-17
United Press
War Summary

1,415th day Of the war; seth day Of
the big offensive.
Italian front: After being temper
ariIy checked by counter attacks ali
along the new seventy mile offensive
front, the Austrians renewed their as
sault yesterday In the mountainous
region between the Astico and Piave
rivers and also at various points along
the latter stream.
A special cornmunique issued by the
italian war office last night declared
that the enemy is being held.
British troops are opposing the
Austrians along the Asiago plateau
while French forces evidently are
fighting in the Mount-G Grappa region,
between Asiago and the Piave. The
fact that Rome admits the enemy is
fighting '@~est Of San Dona Di Piave"
indicates the Austrians have forced
crossing Of the Piave at this point.
San Dona Di Piave is on the east
bank Of the Piave, ten miles from the
sea and on the railway line which runs
southwestward to Mestre, the railway
junction on the mainland north Of
Venice. Venice is less than twenty
miles southwest Of the point where
the Austrian crossed the Piave.
Petit Parisien says that more than
100000 Austrians are being used in
the drive.
Marne front: The French improved
their positions northwest Of Haute-
braye, between the Disc and the
Aisne, taking a hundred prisoners.
The Americans repuIsed two attacks
on BeIIeau wood yesterday morning.
Picardy front: Germans bombarded
British positions northwest of Albert
for short tire last night.
Flanders front: Attempted enemy
raid repuIsed near Givenchy.
Lorraine front: One hundred and
artillery, defeated nearly 600 Germans
who attacked xivray, in the TouI sec
tor Sunday morning. The Germans
suffered heavy casualties and lost
number Of prisoners.
AIsace front: Americans holding the
new sector east of BeIfort, in German
territory, drove off raiders Sunday
morning.
England: London Post declared the
arrived of American troops in the past
few days "has eclipsed all records"
Final Despairine Effort
[BysJ. w. T. Mason. United Press
War Fxpertl
NEW YORK, June 17.-Austro-Hun-
gary's offensive against Italy undoubt-
edly has been ordered by HindenburS
as final despairing effort to wealdnu
the allies through forcing Italy to with
draw from the war Before Americas
forthcoming offensive can be started.
Hindenburg has taken a blind
chance at his new blood spilllng.
To compel Austro-hungarians to
slaughter themselves in what will al
most certainly prove a futile adven-
ture is deliberately to stimulate dis
astrous domestic conditions within the
dual monarchy. For the practically
negligible possibility of compelling
Italy to sign separate peace, Hin
denburg is riskipg an uprising in Aus
tria-Hungary against German mill
taristic rule. So great gamble as
this demonstrates that Hindenburg
realizes that time is fatally against
him and that Germany must win by
autumn or not at all.
The allies have been given splendid
opportunity to increase dissens1ons
in AustroIHungary by holding fast
along the italian front. A slight gain
of territory by the Austro Hungarians
with the capture of a few thousand
prisoners, will never be accepted by
Emperor Karl's subjects as sufficient
justification for a heavy slaughter of
Hapsburg troops. The Austro-Hun-
garian offensive apparently has for
its immediate main object the capture
of Venice The two railway lines
nearest to Venice from the Piave riv-
er. are being strongly held by the
Italians against powerful assaults.
Venice is fifteen to twenty miles