The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-06-18
Italian Lines Practically Intact
ThruOut the Front.
Gains Made by Enemy of Slight
Importance to Battle.
ITALIANS MAY STRIKE BACK
.tre in Position To Flank Aus
trians in Mountains.
rmans May Strike Again in
France Soon.

-oIdlng their lines intact aloHS VII
IL lily all the ninety miles of battle
mt from the Adriatic to the Asiago
L.dteau, the Italian and allied armies
oppear to have given the Austrian ar
lies a serious setback Approximately
100000 Austrians have been hurled
gainst the Italian front, but have
sained little except along the Piave
river, where their progress is SEEM
ingly too slow to be threatening to the
allied positions.
Austrian Losses Erightful.
Losses which are described as fright
full have been inflicted upon the Aus
trians in the areas where the prin-
cipaI fighting has taken place. In the
mountainous country where the Brit
ish have been holding their positions
solidly thousands of the enemy nave
perished while they have paid heav-
lily for every foot they have advanced
along the Piave river front.
Enemy Gains Foothold.
In the Montello, on the upper Piave
the Austrians seem to have gained
fuothold on the west bank of the
river. North of Zenson loop and to
Capo Sile lower down, they have also
moved westward, but their greatest
gain Goes not exceed two or three
the Austrians have gained the most
ground at Capo Sile. village situated
west of the Piave river and surround
ed by lower marshy land, which in it.
self does not lend itself readily to q
rapid advance by the Austrians., The
vital mountain sector along the upper
reaches of the Rrenta has not been
broken. On the contrary the British
claim to have defeated the foe. AS
long as this front holds firmly. ac-
cordiHg to military experts, the stabil-
ity of the Italian line is assured un-
less a serious breach should be made
along the Piave river, east of Tre-
viso and MontebeIluna. --..-.-
MAJ BE Counter Offensive.
There are hints of a counter often
sive in reports from Italy. The sue
cess of the Italians two weeks ago in
the mountainous country to the west
of Lake Garda and the evident con-
cern of the Austrian command oyer
an advance there may indicate that If
the Italians strike back it may be
along this part of the front A sue
cess there would isolate the Austrian
forces fighting east of Lake Garda
and turn the right flank of the enemy
ar nies.
German Blow Impending in France?
While the gigantic Austrian attempt
to break thru to the plains of Italy
has occupied the center of the stage,
events of Importance may be taking
shape in the Somme battlefield. Heavy
firing by the German artillery in the
Ancre valley and northward to Serre
is reported by the British. 1t is on
this part of the front that a German
attack has b en- expected by the allies,
and the German bvmpardment may
be the prelude of a resumption of the
enemy's offensive in France
Had Prepared for Months.
Despite months of preparations and
a stupendous preliminary lombard
ment the Austrian attack in the north
on the Asiago plateau and between
the Brenta and the Pave collapsed al
most at it's inception before the stout
resistance of the French and Italians.
Altho their offensive began Saturday
the Austrians on Monday had given
up, at least momentarily. their efforts
to reach the Venetian plain to the
south. In counter thrIsts the Italians
Monday regained several positions In
the mountains.
British Hold Ground.
Around Montello. just below where
the battle line reaches the Piave, the
Italians still hold their positions await
ing further efforts but the enemy
made no attacks there Monday The
. enemy command is reorganizing the
come the important height. Between
Zenson and Fossalta. a distance of less
than .hree miles. the Austrians sue
ceeded in crossing the river after hav-
ing been defeated in efforts to de-
bouch north and south of these points.
Zenson is east of Treviso and If the
tContinued on Page Two.)