Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-06-21
STOUT ITALIAN
RESISTANCE TOO
MUCH FOR HUNS
Austrians Defeated in Drive
Against Keystone of the
Allied Defense
RAIN HINDERS INVADERS
Seventh Day of Battle Sees
Little Success For
the Enemy
RAIN HINDERS INVADERS
By dsSocintcG PrcsS

Stout Italian resistance has again
stopped the Austrians in their eff
forts to extend their front on the
Montello plateau, the keystone of
the Italian defense on the Piave
river.
Official announcement is made at
Rome that the Austrians were de-
feated in drive yesterday on the
northeastern section of the plateau
and that only on the south were they
able to make any progress whatever.
The enemy was able to cross the
Montebelluna-Susegana railway at
several points near Nervesa station,
but even at this point was promptly
stopped
Nervesa is a village on the west
bank of the PiaVe on the extreme
southeastern point of the Montello
plateau. The railroad mentioned is
not shown on military maps and
probably has been built quite recent
ly. On the north and west the pla-
teau slopes up steeply to wooded
heights, while on the south are low
lands similar to those further down,
where the Austrians have been
checked by the Italians. AS the Aus
trians have for some days held posi-
tions near NerVesa, the net results
of their last attack is apparently in
| significant.
{ Austria's offensive against Italy
/ apparently has resolved itself into
q defensive movement both in the
mountains and along the Piave.
! While facing allied counterattacks on
the fighting front. the Austrian gov
ernment is being harassed in Vienna
IL
caused by food conditions.
/ Spurred on by their successful re-
| sistance, Italian troops are making
repeated attacks against the enemy
positions west of the Piave and have
| gained some ground. In the noun
tains around Asiago F'ranco-ltalian
troops have reoccupied important
positions. Wednesday the bag OF
Austrian prisoners aggregated nearly
1000, bringing the total captures to
1000.
Vienna Admits Reverse
! Vienna in it's official statement ad-
mits that it's troops are on the de-
fensive, and is content to report that
all Italian attacks, especially along
the Piave, have been repulsed. The
lighting is now in its seventh day and
! the Austrians west of the Piave prob
! ably in a more precarious position
| than at any time since last Saturday.
Around Montello, on the northern
end of the Piave line, the Austrians
have been driven back slightly. Their
efforts to advance near Zenson, near
| the center of the line, have been
! checked with severe losses. At San
| Dona di Piave and on the Fossetta
Canal the Italians have driven the
/ enemy from ground gained earlier
| in the week.
Elements Aid Allies
| Heavy rains are reported in the
mountains and these may add to
the torrent in the Piave which
already has washed away many
bridges. With the flooded river be-
hind the enemy the Italian counter
attacks are gaining in strength in
an effort to wipe out or capture the
| troops which have crossed the Piave
and have been unable to advance
into the Venetian plain.
Riots are reported in suburbs of
Vienna and 100000 workmen in i'm
portant war manufactures there are
on strike. The situation apparently
! is growing beyond control of the civil
authorities and martial law in the
Austrian capital is not unlikely. The
/ bread and the agitation iS.spreading.
! Advices received in neutral coun-
tries are to the effect that the pres
ent trouble is the most serious the
| Austrian government has yet faced
and is causing grave apprehension
! throughout the country. Germany
appears. unable to help because it
is faced with serious food situation
itself.
Yanks Are Busy
Subnormal fighting activity con-
tinues generally on the front in
France and Belgium. The American
troops appear to be the only ones
who are busy and the actions which
have occupied them have not been
extensive.
West of Montdidier American
troops in a short and desperate en-
gagement have cleaned out German
trenches and machine-gun nests at
Cantigny. Most of the Germans VINO
remained to fight the Americans
were killed, while a number were
made prisoner.
Huns Give False Report
Berlin officially claims that Ger
man troops have penetrated the
American trenches at Seicheprey.
The falsity of this report is shown by.
dispatch from the American front
which says that the penetration"
was only an attempted raid by sixty
Germans.
Announcement is made of the tor
pedoing in the Mediterranean of the
French transport SAINT Anna with
the loss of 63S lives The vessel was
sunk on May 10 and 1872 of the sol
diers and native workmen on board