The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-06-21
.AWStriamS Driven Back
Across MOntebpllunO
Railway.
SURROUNDED on PAVE
Advance Near ZeMSOm. Re-
pulsed and Capo Silc Is Re-
taken by the Italians.
BATTLE Is CONTINUOUS
Losses Of the Enemy $50. 900,
With Gain of But IL
Square Miles.
BATTLE Is CONTINUOUS


LONDON. Jane .O.--Italian army
headquarters telesraphs tonight that
conditions on the battle front are he-
coming increasingly advantageous to
tie Allies. After four days of fight
ING. the despatch reads. the opera
tion.' are confined 10 two salicnts on
tic piave River. where the Austrians
who crossed are surrounded by the
Italians, WHO are continually bonn
harding them. The river. swollen by
recent rains, prevents their retreat.
Italian artillery and airplancs are IN
fictng tremendous losses upon the
enemy. Their communicating bridges
have been destroyed. making il DIM
cult for them to bring mp supplies
The correspondent of the Giorndic
dItolin says the Italians. in their
counter attacks. have come upon
whole heaps OF enemy dead. and that
they have found entire Hungarian
units annihilated. The enemy is ex-
hausted by his efforts and has ahan-
doned all operations in the mountain
regions. The Austrians have been
compelled 20 employ their reserves to
stop Italian counter attacks. hut in
spite OF this the Italians have made
many important advances on the
Piave, which runs red with blood
Gain Only Twelve square Miles.
In his entire advance the enemy has
been able to gain only twelve snuar"
miles. which IL less than ne gained on
tho fret day ot the offensive. The bat
salions OF the Arrhdukc Joseph puehed
rs far as Ciano hut the Italians counter
attacked during II violent storm and le-
gained some OF the lost ground. while
their artillery cut mp the Austrian re-
serves which were being brought UP the
river at SuseGana
Repeated atterN's to cross the river
south of Mon'cbell, have failed and the
losses inflicted on the Austrians in these
attempts were tremendous. Italian
headquarters estimates that OF twenty
enemy dl, sions ENGAGED in .he first ,hres
days many had to he withdrawn on ac-
count OF l".ses. Two divisions were
taken ont OF th" Nattle at Grappa with
losses of several thousand men each
The correspondent Of the Rome 7i1-
bWnn telegraphs that the .\ustrians have
had to use up practically all or their re-
serves. whereas the Italian reserves re-
main intact The fact that more than
1000 prisoners were captured by the de-
Tending forces proves the aggressivene,s
With which the Italians entered the bat
tie.
Enemy Casualties 100000.
THIS correspondent add that the enemy
occupied only d few square mics OF terri
tory a cost Of La. 400 ,aSualtie.
Heavy rains have made Inc pia,e almost
impa ssablc. aud this mas made the prob
lem of bringing up supplies and am
munition an eXceedineIy d'ftilult one for
tho attackers Ali prisoners taken by
the Naliaus arc without food reserves.
The first four regiments that attacked
tho Montelio plateau were practically
Niped out, and the losses inflicted on
some of the succeeding regiments aey
greSated 30 per cont. in IiIIed. Or}
Austrian officer who tried 20 lead his
men across the rlave stated that at
least one in every ten or his men waS
killed even before reaching The river
bank. lie had orders to cross a. any
cost and suffered terribly IN ron.e-
quence.
The Austrian prisoners stated that
the" had been told they would md
abundant food supplies on the other sido
OF the river. They threw bridges across.
but these were shot from under them
The spirit OF the Italian armies con-
t.nues high. The men sing as they
narch to battle. and on all sides thers
is tho utmost confidence concerning tine
final outcome The supply Of food and
munitions continues 30 tiow TO the front
in an uninterrupted stream.