The Sentinel=record., 1918-06-22

New York, June 21.-The barrier
the Italians and their allies have
Ilaised along the great battle arc,
from the Asiago plateau to the sea,
remains insuperable to the Austrians.
The operations from which The en-
emy had hoped to press his way from
the mountain peaks in the Alps ana
across the Piave river to the plains
of Venetia, thus far have met with
almost signal failure. Where the en-
emy was able in the mountains to
press back slightly the allied de-
tenders Of the front in the first day
OF their offensive the ground has
been regained where he crossed the
Piave river and apparently was
threatening the plains with invasion,
he now is being sorely harrassed at
every point by the Italians.
The battle is not a stalemate. In
French troops seemingly have the up
per hand; along the Piave from the
Montello plateau to the mouth of the
river east of Venice the Italians, not
withstanding vicious thrusts by the
enemy here and there, apparently are
gainging the upper hand
Biittle fighting of moment is in
progress in the mountain region, but
along the Piave battles of great vio-
lence are in progress, with the in
vaders meeting resistance upon which
they had not counted and being
steadily pressed back towards the
western bank of the now turbulent
river, which has swept away many of
their pontoon bridges in the center of
the line, leaving them in rather
precarious predicament.
Fresh rains have forced the river
we'll out of the banks and the ques-
tiOn of sending Austrian reinforce
ments to the western side or con-
veying food and military supplies to
the men already on the border of the
plans has become a critical one
Hoping to alleviate the situation,
the Austrians have made attacks on
Montello plateau the keystone to the
plans, but like previous thrusts, they
met with repulse. Between the Tre-
viso railroad bridge and the Zenson
loop the Italians have pressed back
the enemy closer toward the Piave,
while at Losson, near the Fossetta
canal, enemy attacks were repulsed.
Farther down the stream a short
distance from where II empties into
the Adriatic sea, the Italians in a
daring assault north of COrtellazzo
pierced the enemy front, took 200
prisoners and firmly held their
ground against counter attack In
he violent air fighting that in in
progress all along the front the
American aviators have joined the
allied airmen and are performing dar-
ing feats Among the enterprises
carried out by them has been the
bombing of pontoon BRIDGES thrown
by the enemy across the Piave.
Empty stomachs continue to play
an important role both with the Aus
tro Hungarian armies and the people
inside the dual monarchy. Prisoners
taken by the Italians are noticeably
ill-fed; trouoous times prevail in
cities and towns in the empire and
kingdom because of ack of food The
people, even officials are declared to
he at their wits end in endeavors tc
alleviate the situation.
The Hungarian premier Is said tC
have told parliament that the king
dom has only one fourth the food
necessary to maintain the people IN
health and that Il would be hard tC
hold out until the new harvest Is
garnered
ENcept for the Italian theatre lit
tie fighting Is in progress. South
west OF scissors, near Fayerolles anC
q little farther south. near Hautyes-
nes. the French In more of their dahl,
attacks have bettered their positioni
aud taken prisoners from the Ger
mans Ia the region Of Arras an,
Albert the british likewise hayi