The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1918-06-18
Allied Armies
Have Given The
Austrians Setback
6continued from Page one.)


Bitter fighting is in progress along
the Piave river. The Austrians are
suffering large losses from the con-
centrated fire of Italian batteries.
Repeated counter attacks are made by
Italian infantry, inflicting heavy cas-
ualties on the enemy.
The hunger offensive" as the Aus
trian prisoners describe it, is carried
on with the greatest severity on the
Piaye front, where it is apparent that
the Austrians have massed large bod
les of troops. In the mountain re-
gions to the north the fighting for the
present is limited to local attacks and
counter attacks.
The enemy is making desperate eff
forts to retain the positions he OBJ
tained during the first stage of the
offensive on the western bank of the
Piave, at the points where he still
has a footing across the river. These
operations are costing him heavily.
Fierce fighting is taking place in the
Nervesa zone, midway between the
Alps and the sea.
There is no question that the spirit
of the italian troops is excellent.
Nevertheless the general situation is
regarded as serious in view of the
fact that the Austrians, so it is said,
have brought into action all their
available forces in The hope of break
ing through the italian lines and
scoring such a decisive victory as to
put Italy out of the war.
On Austrian prisoners have been
found copies of a speech delivered by
Emperor Charles shortly before the
offensive was begun.
Before you is the enemy" said the
emperor. There glory awaits you,
and honor, good food, abundant spoil5,
final peace. With the help of God
make the supreme sacrifice for your
king, for liberty and for your beau
tiful fatherland."
Rome, Monday, June 17.---In their
attacks between Zenson and Fossalta
along the Piave, the Austrians have
been stopped everywhere, says an Of
fetal statement tonight by the Italian
war office. In the mountain region
and around Montello there have beer
no infantry attacks by the enemy.
The Allied troops have taken sew
eral hundred additional prisoners and
some machine guns.
London, June 1S.---The German ar
tillery was more active than usua
last night along the Ancre river
south Of Albert and west of Cerre
according to the statement issued by
the war office today.
The statement reads:
"a hostile raiding party was re
pulsed by us last night southeast o
Villers Bretonneux. We secured {
few prisoners. Other prisoners and
a machine gun were taken by us il
successful raids southeast of Albert
in the neighborhood of Moyennevill'
ION the northern side of the Somm
salient), and in patrol encounters cas-
of the Nieppe forest Con the western
side of the Flanders battle area.)
THE hostile artillery was more &C
tive than usual last night in the An
ere valley and south of Albert. 1
also showed some activity west o
Cerre."
Paris, June 1S.---In a local opera
ton south of the Aisne last night tn
French took 100 prisoners, it is an
nounced officially. Between the Ourc'
and the Marine prisoners were take
in patrol encounters.
~, South of the Aisne the French car
ried out successful local operation
south of AmbIeny and east of Mont
COLBERT, taking 100 prisoners, includin
two officers.
Between the Ourcq and the Marn
French patrols took prisoners.
Elsewhere the night was calm.