The Little River news., 1918-07-03
ITALIANS TAKE OFTEN
 SIYE ON ASIAGO PLATEAU
Capture Monte di Val Bella and Take SOJ Prisoners New Posi- tiOns-Only Raiding
 in West.

Attacking the Austro-Hungarian lines on the SAsiago plateau, the Ital- ians have wrested Monte di Val Bel la from the enemy, captured S09 pris- oners and held their new positions against repeated counter attacks.
 This sudden turn from the defen siye to the offensive came as a sur prise to the laymen of the allied world, for it had been believed that General Diaz, the Italian commander, would be content to hold his lines iii the mountains against great, new offensive intended by the Austrlans and Germans to take away the sting of defeat of the Austrians along the Piave two weeks ago.
 Nor was the Italian attack limit ed to the positions on Monte di Val Bella. Further east, on the left bank Of the Brenta river, they captured the height of Sasso Rosso, just north O. the village of Valstagna, taking pris- oner two officers and thirty-one men.
 These two actions, while local in character, may explain the failure of the Italians to pursue the Austrians across the Piave when, on June 23, the ! enemy fled from the west bank With 1 a haste that indicated something O. demoraliZatiOn.
 General Diaz probably has expect ed the heaviest enemy blow to be launched along the mountain front which is the key to the whole Italian situation. In attacking there himself he has carried the fight to the foe gained strong positions at vital points and broke up some of the prepara- tions made by enemy for an olfen- sive in that quarter.
 eral Diaz plans to go further than To- cal objectiyes. out ii he should make much progress On the Asis go plateau he could be able to take under his artillery fire the railroad paralieling the battle line and running along the Brenta river east Of Lake ChaldonaZ- 20. This line is the connecting link between the Piave and Adiage fronts liend if the Italians could dominate it. the Austrian system of communica- tons would be seriously impaired.
 1he West Froh..
 ,rho Ero-ob oro continuino th.ir "nibbling' tactics along the line run ming nortnward from the Marne. Fri day they swept the Germans back from the environs of Viliers-Cotterets forest southwest of Soissons, and held the grouna they had taken. Saturday night they suddenly attacked the German lines 2 little to the north ot the Clign-n river and just to the left of the positions held by the American troops in that sector. A long ridge between the villages of Mos!oy and Passy-en-VG!ois was occupied and 265 prisoners were taken. Further north, ne.r St. Pierre Aigie, the French po- sitions were improved by a local at tack.
 The British have repulsed an ene- my assault in the neighborhood of Morris, near where the Germans were driven back east of Nieppc lorest on Friday The British official state nent mentions heavy German artil- lery fire before Amiens, ncer Albert. north of the Searpe, near Arras, anu in the region of Festubert, northwest of Lens.
 The official statement issued at Berlin says that artillery firing has increased between the Yser and the Marne, which includes virtually all of the active battle zone.
 There is D report that Alexis Ro, manoff, the son of the former Rus sian emperor, is alive, notwithstanding dispatches telling of his recent death.
 -WS