The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-06-25
ITALIANS START
I COUNTER STROKE
THRU MOUNTAINS
Austrians Offer Strong Resist.
ance Against Offensive.
Extent of Movement Has Not
Yet Been Revealed.
BRITISH MAKE GAIN ON ASIAG0
May Be Move To Forestall Ac.
tion by Austrians.
Retreat Continues All Along
the Piave River.
Extent of Movement Has Not
Yet Been Revealed.
BRITISH MAKE GAIN ON ASIAGO

London, June 25.-The Italians have
| started counter-offensive in the
mountain region, 1t was learned from
an authoritative source this afternoon.
! The Austrians are making a strong
| resistance but the Italians have gained,
The above dispatch does not show
the extent of the italian counter
| offensive. but British forces already
have made an appreciable gain on the
Asiago plateau. in conjunction with
| Italian gains along the Piave.
1t is possible that General Diaz,
knowing that the Austrians oontem.
! plated a renewal of their drive south
ward from the mountains. "beat them
| to the punch"
Italians Cautious.
! General Diaz is cautiously pursuing
the battered Austrian armies because
the advance of the Italians leaves
their left flank open to an attack by
| the Austrian-German reserves in the
dominating hills of the upper Piave.
| Officers here stated that the Austrian
| disorder will permit the Italians to
| strongly fortify themselves on the east
bank of the Piave.
Dispatches to the embassy today an
nounced the cooperation of the Ital-
ian navy in the counter offensive that
precipitated the Austrian retreat.
| Navy Helped in Battle.
| Destroyers battered the Austrian
positions along the Tagliamento river
and north of Castellazo while marine
battalions from the warships advanced
across the Piave and took hundreds
of prisoners
Austrian aviators attacked Brindisi
during the battle but were driven off
with the loss of several planes. Italian
and British aviators bombed Cattaro
and Burazzo across the Adriatic sea
in retaliation.
Czhcc-Slavocs, Jugo-Slavs, Ruman-
Hans, Serbians and other nationalities
oppressed by sAustrians, were repre-
isented at a demonstration to the VIC
Itorious italian forces given by the
British ambassador at Rome yester-
day.
italian cables today also announced
lverification from three sources of dis
Ipatches given out at the embassy yes
terday that $4,000 Austrian prisoners
had been taken in Austrian retreat
across the Piave.
With the Italian Armies in the
Field, June 25.-The Austrian retreat
continues.
4 The Importance and scope Of the
Italian success grows hourly.
1t Is now reported that the troops
of Archduke Joseph and General Won
;. Wurm must surrender or be ami
hilated.
River Full OF Dead.
The Piave is choked with enemy
dead and the debris of their equip
ment The attempt OF the Austrian
war office to represent their retire.
ment as voluntary is false. In only q
few scattered places could the river be
forded and these were under constant
pounding by the italian artillery and
allied airmen. The handful of bridges
also was pelted with shells and air
bombs. ~
1t is positively established that the
enemy's losses are even greater in the
retreat than as a direct result of the
Italian counter-offensive.
Airmen Harass Retreating Foe.
Allied air forces were particularly
active in harassing the Austrian re-
treat across the river at Falze. after
the enemy had been swept from Mont
clio. American ayiators played Q
prominent role in this work. Thou.
; sands of Austrians have been captur-
ed. Other thousands have been wiped
Y out by artillery, machine gun and rifle
! fire, by air bombs and by drowning.
E Cavalry Far Beyond Piave.
, Italian cavalry is pursuing the
= enemy far beyond the Piave. The
r horsemen are pushing forward toward
2 the line between Conegliano and
]. Oderzo. The infantry has followed the
3 cavalry across and Is operating on the
t east bank at three points on the twen-
0 ty mile front between Montello and
i Ponte di Piave.
n Austrian Reserves in Mountains.
General Diaz has made no announce.
ment as to the extent the Italians viii
i follow the retreating enemy. 1t ID
known that the greater part Of the
Austrian reserves are concentrated in
the mountain area to the north which
has now become the Italian flank.
A considerable British force pene-
trated the Austrian lines on the Asiagc
!, plateau and returned with a number
of prisoners, who may furnish val.
liable information regarding tho
enemy's intentions in this region.
Just what effect the Piave retire
+ ment may have on the expected Aus.
:. trian drive southwark from the noun.
tains cannot yet be determined.