Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-06-17
Rome Men and Allies Ad
vance in Counter-Foe
Claims $4,000 Taken.

Vienna, June IL, (Via Lon
dom The number OF Italian
and abied prisoners captured
by the ustrO-HuHgarian forces
In their new offensive on the
northern Italian front have
been increased to 1900, the
AusTO-Hungarian official state
ment issued today says.
The Austrians have captured
CapO Sile, on the southern end
OF the Pave line and on the
west side OF the river and also
have captured ground 10 the
west OF san D0na Dl PlaYe, the
statement adds.
With the Ita liam Army. SuR-
day, June I6.-(By the AssOCia-
ted Press Austrian troops
which forced the PiaYe river
have been driven back. The
fighting along the river Is most
intense.
Nowhere else along the front
of attack has the struggle been
SO severe as on the Piaye line.
One OF the most brilliant Of
the Italian actions was the de-
fense OF the Monte MOschin
s.Iient protecting the Brenta
positions. Here the Austrians
suffered heavy losses, many Of
their machine guns being cap
tured.
The prisoners are ragged and IL
fed. Many of them are under-sizeC
youths. One of them remarked r
the correspondent that he had NJ
interest in the war
The feeling of the Italians is
buoyant.
% AT Italian army headquarters sat
isfaction is felt over the situation
on every part Of the front.
VIII Go to Austria with Yanks.
The general commanding the ar
tillery corps in the Monte Grappf
region expressed this feeling to tbs
correspondent.
Now send us only four divisions
Of Americans" the general added
We will first shake hands and then
travel together into Austria"
The severity OF the fighting on
Monte Grappa may be understood
from the fact that the Italian artil-
lery fired 10000 shells in II hours
Is Gigantic Battle.
Washington. June l7.-An of1c
ial dispatch from Rome dated 1855
o'clock last night says the battle
on the Italian front will assume gi-
gantic proportions, the Austrians
attempting TO break down the
Italian defense by a great pinceT
movement. Il adds that the battle
will last several days before a de
cision is reported.
tBy Associated Pressl
Although the situation along tha
great crescent shaped battleline IA
northern Italy remains somewhat
obscure, it seems that the Aus
-rians have accomplished little al
The inception OF their drive again 81
the Italian and allied army. From
the lower Piaye river and north
ward along that stream come en-
couraging reports telling OF th8
enemy being checked and at some
points being hurled back across
he river. From the Piave 10 the
3renta where the Teutous adj
through mountain rayiues
n their attempts TO breaA through
he allied lines, the situation
seems 10 be well in hand
IL now appears the Austriaus
made three attempts To cross the
oiave. one was south OF Monteilo.
where the battleline leaves the Pi-
I'VE river and mounts 10 the west
ward into the Alps. one was be
ween Candelu and Zenson loou
where the Austrians effected a
'rossing last November. The other
vas at 5. Dona Di Piave about II
niles from the mouth Of the river.
At least some of these forces have
,een driven back across the river.
while the others have not been
Ible to develop any adyan agt
rom their early success.
Result Hangs in Balance.
The result is as yet In the bal-
Ince. So far. German troops ara
eported only in one sector on the
front but il is not i'm
probable that they will be dis
PATCHED TO aid the Austrians T.,
hey can be spared along the
french front. Furious lEhung IS
aid to be continuing and 10 IS
that harder blows will ba
aunched by the enemy. The fact
.owever, that the first onset dia
lot result in a virtual dehacle.
uch as ensued when the German
nd Austrians attacked along The
songo last October. speaks vol
mes for ths Italian morale