Republican farmer., 1918-06-28

III pOoIGAOlAo. O6fUllS FdIuS dTO plateau.
 The Italian gain on Monte Grappa. however, is most important as the mountain is the key position to the terrain between the Brenta and the Pfave, and dominates the hills south ward to the Venetian plain It was on this height that the Austrians met with failure in their attempts 10 days ago to reach the plain from the north.
 In completing the recapture of the western bank of the Piaye the Ital- ians added 1,500 prisoners to the al- ready large numbers takeF. While the sudden rise of the rixer distressed the Austrians who had crossed to the western bank, the river fell during the enemy retreat but again has risen, hampering the Italian pursuit on the eastern bank. Apparently the Italians have been content to hold the strong bridgeheads on the east ern bank rather than to attempt to pursue the enemy any distance east ward
 Vienna officially places the Italian losses at 1E0,000, including 0,000 prisoners. It admits the retirement across the Piave from MonteI1o to the Adriatic, but intimates that the Iai- ians did not press the retiring Aus trians very closely. In their efforts on the mountain front, it is atded, the Italians were repulsed completely. Raiding operations continue on the front from Switzerland to the sea, especially between Ypres and Rheims, where further heavy fighting undoubt- edly will take place. German sol diers are reported as being depressed over the Austrian defeat, and f% is held in some Entente quarters that Germany may make a strong effort almost immediately in order to main tain German and Austrian morale behind the lines. The Germans had expected a successful Austrian offens- i've against Italy, thereby hastening | peace.
 Apparently Germany has given up hope of reaching a decision on the | field of battle, if the speech of For eign Secretary von Kuehlmann in an | indication. He declared that peace must come through negotiation, and 1 said that the appearance on Euro pean fronts of soldiers from overseas had made this necessary. He could | give no idea of when the war would end. His effort was received coldly by the Reichstag.
 The official view in Washington was that the speech was a peace move, and that Germany now invites l proposals from the Entente. It is ] felt that the move is similar to others which have followed German or Aus trian failures to bring a quick decis- ion in the field.
 | American troops have again taken the offensive northwest of Chateau Thierry, where they have already written a glorious chapter in the story of American participation in the war. The operation in which the American were engaged is mentioned but briefly in the daily communique of the French war office, but it would seem to indicate that the Americans have been in quite a notable engage ment.
 Prisoners to the number of 150 were taken in the action, which is said by the French to have been brilliant Among the Germans captured was a captain. The French 1 official statement says that this is the number of captives ''so far counted" !" which may mean that the operation is still going on or that the full story has not yet been told
 The Americans also have again cleared the Germans from the Bell leau wood, on the Marne. This at tack was preceded by a 13-hour bom- bardment. More than 200 Germans were captured.
 Local operations along the French and British fronts are officially re- ported Prisoners and machine guns
 were taken by the Allies in these, which appear to have been no more than outpost encounters.
 Baron von Seydler, the Austrian
 premier, has declined to continue in office and form a new cabinet It is reported that Baron Bahnhaus, min
 ister of railroads in the Won Seydler cabinet, will receive the appointment The Austrian parliament, which was
 dissolved when the economic situa-
 tion became critical in that country, may be convoked, it is believed, with a restricted program for it's proceed ings The food conditions in Austria were admitted to be serious in the
 discussions during the meeting of the
 crown council at which Baron won Seydler announced that he would re-
 tire from office. It was said that Emperor Charles was personally ad-
 dressing the German emperor on the
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