Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-10-29


garian resistance on the central
positions along the Piave river we're
broken ioday by the British. French
and Italian forces.
Italian Headquarters On The Pave.
Monday. Der 28--Fifteen thousand
prisoners had been taken BY The British.
Italian and French Rp to late today 10 the
advance across the Piave which for ne
third time in one wear Is the scene Of a
desperate battle This time however the
tables are turned against the Austr!ans
who are steadily being pressed back from
the eastern bank of the river
ArzTRIANs FIGHT FUREOCsLY.
The real battle now has been gong on
for I'VE davs and has been marked by ne
desperate resistance Of the Austuans.
They have directed their artillery hre
against pontoon bridges thrown across the
Pave and their bombing airpianes also
haze caused trouble for the allies. ne
allies not ONLY have mad 10 battle against
the swift river current, but also TO contend
with the renewal OF the pontoons ana loot
bridges damaged by the Austrlans.
Once across the river the allies have mad
10 overcome strong Austrian trench
positions and machine gun posts. AUSTRIAN
prisoners declare they know nothing ot
the political situation at home and ne
efforts OF their government 70 arrange an
arnistice The Austrian army postoitce Is
said to have stopped the delivery OF mau
some time ago.
Although facing heavy cannonade ana
strong machine gun FIRE the allied troops
succeeded ineffecting crossing OF the flave
TROOPS FLoch 10 FRONT.
All the roads leading o ne mountains
or the Plave are crowded with heavy
masses OF troops guns and other war
material proceeding 10 the front.
The present battle OF the Playe began
officially on October 10, but heavy hght-
ing did not develop until October =, tn
anniversary Of Caporetto and the beginning
OF the retreat TO the Piavc. The it0Haa
official sta temcntsonthe lighting have been
reserved IN their comments, owing 30
weather conditions which threaten a rise
In the Pave The river mas been lett
several miles behind southeast of Montcl!o.
Movements across the river IN force are
increasing steadily
Gangs OF Austrian prisoners captured
in the drive already are a. work digging
graves for the burial of the dead
AMERICAN TROOPS ~ RESERVE.
American soldiers arc in reserve along
the Piave fighting zone The correspondent
saw an american battalion gong through
its setting up exercise this morning near
the river
People living in the war zone are To-
night surrounding the bulletin boards up
on which Is placarded the official state
ment that the Piave river has been crossed
and that the battle is still going on There
were many impromptu addresses which
were enthusiastically cheered
1t is evident that the offensive is popu-
lar, especially by the thousands Of ref
ugees who were driven from their homes
last fall by the advancing AustrlanS.
Rome. Monday. Oct - The text Of
the official statement issued al the war
office tonight, reads
'eThe battle continued fercelv during
last night and today and is in the course
of full development. On the front Of the
Twelfth and Eighth armies n spite Of
the enemy's very lively opposition, We
maintained and extended our bridgehead
North Of the Ornic torrent We gained
advantages
EAST Of Grave d Pappadopolo, the
enemy was attacked with extreme violence
ny the Fourteenth British corps and by
the eFth ttdtiAn NpEpo anu llStS NlCtuttl
"Our troops have broken the enemy )
lines. liberated several villages and en-
tered San Lucia di Pave and Nazzola
They are at the gates Of Monticiano- We
have captured prisoners and guns. but
the number has not yet been determined
In Albania our troops are closely
pressing the enemy's rear guards On the
morning Of October p, they entered
Allessio. They are marching on san
Giovanni di Memua
london, Monday Der 2S. Progress
i toward Oderzo on the east Of the Pave
Continued on page 8