Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-06-18
STIFFENING Of DEFENSE ALONG PAVE
PREVENTS CROSSING BY THE ENEMY

Not alone are the Italians and their
British and French comrades in arms
holding in check the Austrian often
SiNe along the greater part Of tie
hundred mile battle front from tho
region southeast of Trent to the All
riatic sea, but they themselves have
turned aGgrcssors on some of the
more important sectors. especially in
the mountain regions. Counter-ata-
lacks IN the hill country on the north
at several points have resulted in tn"
occupation by the allies of grouni
won from them in the initial on
slaught and the rectification Of Their
lines, While stiffcning Of the front
along the Piave river ha, rendered
impossible for the tine being ut least.
fordinS Of the stream by the enemy
Hard fighting still is in progress,
however, With the AuStrians bring
ing the strongest kind of pressure to
bear against the allied armies on
both the northern and eastern paris
Of the battlefield III an endeavor to
reach the lines and gain access lii
force To the plains.
The strokes of the enemy are pa"-
tlcularly violent on the MontcHo
plateau, the highest bit of ground
along the middle reaches of the PiaVe.
,f piN
/ commanr OF the roads leading through
| Treviso 10 Venice ard a fair-waT
westward through the province of
Treviso. The Italians arc inil'ctlaS
heavy casualties on the troops Of En-
peror Charles which crossed the rIN-
Ter at this point.
To TIE south from Standrea to
Fossalata. respectively tho northern
and southern tanks Of the famous
Zenzon loop. where last year the
Austrians effected a crossing Of the
Pave only later 70 be driven back
with Sanguinary losses. and from
/ Fossalata to san bona Di Pave tire
ghting also is of d violent character
with the Italians according to shc
Rome war office, heroicaHy and iu"-
! cessfully holding the line of the NV
/ CT.
/ Between Candelu and the Zcnzon
7 loop, where the Austrians crossed the
, PiaNe in Saturdays fighting, the ltiii-
7 ANS, have driven them back TO the
river bank and are cndcaNOrinS 70
push them across the stream. me
latest Austrian official communlcd-
ton records the gain of additional
ground west Of San Dona Di PiaVe
and the capture of the village of -
30 Silc, on the eastern edge Of 1nt
, Lagoon region in the province OF We
Meta and about 70 miles from Ncnh'
itself.
Thus far the Italian, British am
French troops have made prisoner o
more than 1900 .Austr,ans. while the Aus
/ trian war office asserts that l2,00p prfs
oners have been taken by the Austrlans
Although the lighting has died dow
considerably in the mountain region, II
il expected soon again to he resume
with increased violence Emperor
Charles is reported to he at the front
and thousands of reinforcements for the
armies are said to be moving southwark.
The Allied commanders are anticipating
vicious fighting, believing that owing
to the turmoil and political unrest in
the dual monarchy the Austrians must
make good showing in order to temper
the feeling against the war at home
There still has been no return to the
heavy fighting Of last week on the battle
fronts in France, although several en-
gagements OF greater import than the
usual raidinS operations have taken
place Counter attacks against the
French in their newly-won positions be-
tween the Disc and the Aisne dcivere
by the Germans Monday were repulsed.
The French captured 80 prisoners and
Is machine guns in the fighting.
/, Northwest of Chateau Thicrrr, espe-
cially in the Belleau wood, the Germans
are treating the Americans to large
waves OF gas and troops. Their efforts
have gone unrewarded. however, so far
as breaking the line is concerned. Amer
/ lean patrols east of Chateau Thierry
again have crossed the aiarne. attacked
I the Germans and returned to their BASE.
In Persia the Turks are reported to
! have captured Tabriz. after Teheran the
! largest city IN Persia.