The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1918-06-25
Saturday

VI
Blocked in their advance across
the Piave river by the Italian and
British forces and with their line of
communications threatened by the
rising waters Of that stream, The
Austro-Hungarians apparently have
closed the first phase Of their often
sive against Italy. Viewed after a
week of fighting, the offensive has
been little more than a demonstra
uon In force over battle line more
than 80 miles in length 1t has
gained none of its objectives and has
cost the Austrians very dearly.
From the first day of the attack
1t was seen that the Italians were not
called upon to meet a tremendous
onslaught on SON strategic kew TO
their position such as was launched
at Caporetto last October. They
had. rather, to defend their lines owe,
a vide front against attacks which
were launched seemingly without
sufficient power to penetrate more
than some of the advanced posts OF
the Italians and their allies.
Second Phase May Start Soon.
The second phase Of the offensive
is expected to begin at any time. 1t
Is not believed that the Austrian.
Will be willing, nor viii they be per-
mltted by Germany, to end their
drive against Italy with the results
indicating an almost total failure.
There have been intimations that
iermany would assist in the attack
Which is coming. and which may be
aunched against the mountain sector
or the front. Large bodies Of men
have been assembled there. presum-
ably for another attempt to break
through the mountain barrier.
The serious food shortage in Aus
tria-Hungary has given rise to sensa-
tonal rumors. One Of these, from
Amsterdam, says an attempt has beer,
made on the life OF Emperor Charlie,
This rumor lacks confirmation.
There is, however, little doubt that
conditions in Austria are near a
crisis. Little OF the true state of at
fairs can be learned because of the
strict censorship. but what little
news filters out through neutral
countries shows that the Austrian
people are on short rations, that Sc
rious rioting has occurred and that
general strikes are feared In
clash between police and strikers at
Budapest AS persons are reported
to have been killed or wounded.
Bulgarian Commission at Vienna.
Bulgarian commission has ar
rived in Vienna, according to dis
patches from The Hague, for the
purpose of negotiating with the
Austrian government concerning
change in relations with GERMANY.
This, coupled with the fact that the
present premier OF Bulgaria was op-
posed to an alliance with Gemmanv
before Bulgaria entered the war. and
the known war-tiredness of the Rul-
gariaps ople, may be significant
Since the 'abortive attack on the
Rheims front early in the week. the
western front has been quiet There
Nave been patrol encounters and the
'Sual operations along the fronts
where great battles were being waged
during the recent past. but nothing
esembling new drive by the Ger
mans at the allied line has been re-
ported. Berlin officially reports the
"resence OF Italian troops in the
Rheims sector.
american forces Psye continued
theip intense actiyit on. the fronts
here they are *hs ling positions.
NoytSwestfof Chs>>iu Thierry thew
haye pushed their 1fness forward once
NOV Spd east OF the city have hpm-
os tbodies of German troops. J;
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