Evening star., 1918-06-18

of development resulted advantage
ously for US"
Text Of Statement.
The statement reads:
"on the mountainous front and
around Montello the enemy did not
renew his infantry attacks. During
the day a successful thrust was car
red out by our troops. We occupied
suns and sos n plisoaef saaaas
Important actions developed south
of sMOntello and along the Pave in
the zone between HenSon and FOSSIL
to- ~but the enemy eyerywhere was
stopped by our counter attacks Sew
'erai hundred prisoners were left In
DUR hands"
Counter Offensive Launched.
italian troops: in conjunction with
their French and British allies. yes
terdhy began a counter offensive
against the Austro- Hungarian forces
which had launched an attack on. the
Italian mountain front. The Italian
and allied troops. according to an an
nouncement made today by the war
ofHces were able to gain partial sue
ceoses and to rectify their lines at
several points along the front. The
garding their losses. continued their
endeavors to cross the Piaye river,
but that the Italians are braveIy
holding their positions.
More than 4. 500 Austrians have been
made prisoner by the Italians, British
and French.
Text Of Statement.
The text of the Italian statement
reads:
"On the Asiago plateau and on
Monte Grappa the enemy. who had on
the 18th instant suffered heavy losses.
limited his action yesterday to hin
dering with intense fire the counter
offensive push Of our own and allied
troops; who. however. were able at
several points to gain partial sue
along the Piave the battle went on
with extreme violence. The enemy.
needless Of his losses. continued his
powerful pressure in order to extend
his occupation on the. Montello. and
open the way to the plain. Our troops
have strongly engaged the energy on
the line of Ciano, the Montello crest
and st. Andrea.
Bravely Hold Positions.
The Italians are bravely holding
the positions on the river from st. AM
drea to Fossaiata and are effectively
opposing the enemys advance in the
area in front of San Dona di Piave.
Prisoners taken from the begin
than 100 officers and $500 men of
other ranks. including 716 Captured
French. '
The aviation service has continued
to take a very Important part in the
nghting, notwithstanding the unfa-
vorable Tying conditions. Forty-four
enemy machines have been brorrht
down during the last two days"
Austrians Reorganizine.
LONDON. June 1.-THE Austrtans
are re-organizing their efYecttyes
along the British line of the Italian
] front after their severe defeat" ac-
coroing 10 an ofhcial statement issued
tonight on the operations of the Brit
| ish with the Italians. The statement
says:
There is little change on the Rrtt-
ish front. The artillery battle has
died down and the enemy fs re-
organizing after his severe defeat.
jectives were very ambitious: they in
di Fonte. The number Of .prisonsrs
has increased to Tic. including IL ofia-
GERS. The. total amount of Captured
material actually brought in was four
mountain guns. ~ machine Guns and
hammenwerfers. -
| Considering the severity Of the
bombardment, and the intensity Of the
fighting, our Casualties were YER
"on June Is and 1s the royal air
force dropped more than 500 bomb,
and dred $4,000 rounds Of machine
gune ammunition on troops and trans.
ports attempting to cross the Piave. /.
Austrians Discounted.
Austrian troops which had as their oh,
jectives on the British front the ranes
OF hills including Gina di Fonte. Par
and Cayeletto. telegraphs Reuters cor.
respondent at Italian headquarters, wer.
much discounted before reaching IN
British wire entanglements. In front a
the Cesuna positions the Austrians SUI.
fered heavily from the British mactinl
1 gun hre. and thsy were also csuGht 5,
their own artillery. which fred short,
The Austyo. HunGArtan casualties, tn,
correspondent say1, are being rackpoo(
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