The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-05-04
Expected Drive on Italy May
Be Started.
Austrian Emperor Orders Par
Lament Adjournment.
BOMBARD ALSO IN FLANDERS
Drive May Be Double One
Now.
Washington Has Not Heard
Definite News.

Vienna, May 8. Friday, via Lon
don, May 4.-Heavy fighting along
the whole Italian front between the
Adriatic and the Giudicaria valley IN
the north is reported in today's Off
cial statement.
This dispatch today indicates that
tie predicted Teutonic drive against
italy may be about to begin. Simul-
taneously there are indications that
the Germans are on the eve of re-
newal of major attacks on the Franco
Belgium lines.
1t is announced that Emperor
Charles has left Vienna for the
'front.' and the Vienna war office state
ment reports pronounced activity all
along the practicable fighting line
from Lake Garda to the Adriatic-
The statement follows:
''The fight activity again increased
to considerable violence yesterday
along the whole italian front between
the Giudicaria valley to the Adriatic.
Has Been Expected.
An Austro- German offensive on the
Italian front has been predicted as
part of the plan of the central en-
pires for a heavy campaign in the
hope of obtaining a decision in the
next few months. 1t has been ex-
pected such an attack would be
launched while the British and
French we're occupied with holding
their line in Flanders and France
Whether such an operation is under
way is not indicated definitely by the
Austrian announcement, may refer to
artillery fighting, and does not indi-
cate which side took the initiative.
The territory between the Adriatic
and the Giudicaria, which comes down
4 i
skirts along the west shore of Lake
Garda, takes In both the Piave and
the northern mountain fronts, en-
bracing mott of the fighting line prac-
t'cable for military operations on "a,
large scale.
Adjourns Parliament.
Amsterdam. May 4.-Emperor
Charles, of Austria, has empowered
the Austrian premier to adjourn par
Lament and forthwith inaugurate
measures to render impossible the re-
sumption of MS activities, Vienna dis
patch says.
A statement published in Vienna
indicates that the closure of parlia-
ment is due to the seriousness of the
food situation. The statement says:
The government will devote its en-
tire strength to the economic problem
and will try to create conditions re-
quired to enable the population to hold
out"
Maybe Not.
Washington, May 4.-Advices to the
Italian embassy here from Rome today
made no mention of the beginning of
the Austrian offensive on the Italian
front, but said the Austrians, because
of the heavy SHOWS had been obliged
to postpone their offensive operations.
General Amadasi is quoted as hav-
ing written from the front that the
snow having obstructed the roads, the
movement of the enemy troops in the
mountain zone was very slow and diff
ticult and the offensive against Italy,
therefore. had been postponed
THE delay caused by the snow and
the general atmospheric conditions,
permits the Italians to complete their
defensive works." says the dispatch.
''and add to their reserves of guns
and ammunition which are being pro-
duced in large quantities in our fac
tories at day and night schedules
The losses in war material suffered by
Italy last fall have been entirely re-
placed ard Austria begins to feel that
Italy is growing stronger every day
and that it is not safe for Austria to
Continued on Page Three)