Evening star., 1918-06-17
Take l,545 Prisoners,
While Austria
Claims 10000
Captured.
GERMAN TACTICS GAIN
AUSTRIANS BUT LITTLE
IUnder Smoke Barrage Enemy
Crosses Pave Three Times
Prince Wounded.

Although the situation along tne
great crescent-shaped battle line IN
northern Italy remains somewhat OBJ
scure, it seems that the Austrians have
accomplished little at the inception OF
their drive against the Italian and
allied armies.
From the Lower Piave river and
northward along that stream come en-
couraging reports telling of the enemy
being checked and at some points
being hurled back across the stream
From the Piave to the Brenta, where
the Teutons advanced through noun
tain ravines in their attempts to break
through the allied lines, the situation
seems to be well in hand.
Cross Piave Three Times.
1t now appears that the Austrians
made three successful attempts to
cross the Piave. One was south OF
Montello, where the battle line leaves
the Piave river and mounts to the
westward into the Alps; one was be-
tween Candelu and Zenson loop.
where the Austrians effected a cross
ing last November and held bridge
head for some time; the other was at
Sandona di Piave. about eleven miles
from the mouth of the river. At least
some of these forces have been driven
back across the river, while the others
have not been able to developany ad-
vantage from their early success.
Follow German Tactics.
Reports of the battle show that the
tactics followed. by the .Austrfans
were similar to those which brought
success to the Germans in the Somme
and Aisne offensives. The enemy ad-
vanced, under cover OF a smoke par
rage from bombs and smoke appa-
ratus, in comparatively small parties.
of the line believed to be lightly held.
In France the Germans succeeded by
this method in gaining the rear OF
strongly held portions OF the line.
which had to be evacuated quickly by
the allies. Along the Italian front.
howeyer. the foe was not able to PEN
citrate far into the allied positions.
and counter attacks soon drove him
back to his lines.
Result Yet in Balance.
The result is as yet in the balance.
So far German troops are reported
only in one sector on the mountain
front. but IL is not improbable that
they will be dispatched to aid the
Austrians If they can be spared along
the French front.
Furious fighting is said to be con-
tinuing. and it is probable that harder
blows will be launched by the enemy.
The fact, however, that the first onset
did not result in virtual debacle
such as ensued when the Germans
and Austrians attacked along the
Isonzo last October speaks volumes
for the Italian morale, and late reports
give reason for belief that the blow at
Italy is not being launched with the
force that has characterized the offen-
sives Of the Germans in France dur
ing the last three months.
Fighting on Piave Intense.
By the Associated Press.
WITH THE ITALIAN ARMY,
Sunday, June 16.--Aastrian troops
which forced the Piave river have
been driven back The fighting along
the river is most intense.
Nowhere s(se along the front of at
tack has tE3 struggle been so severe
as on the 7iave line. One of the mos,
brilliant IF the Italian actions was
the deffhse of the Monte Moschin
saliei & Protecting the important Bren-
ia po.lkions. Here the Austrians suf.
fered feavy losses. and many Of their
machine guns were captured.
The prisoners are ragged and ill fed
Many of them are undersized youths
One of them remarked to the CORE.
spondent that he had no interest 'ir
the war.
At Italian army headquarters salts.
faction is felt over the situation or
every part of the front.
"Send Us Americans"
The general Commanding the artil.
lery corps in the Monte Grappa re.
gion expressed this feeling to the cor.
respondent:
Now send JUS only four divisions o,
Americans" the general added. 1--WE
will first shake hands and then trave
together into Austria
The severity of the fighting or
Monte Grappa may be understood
from the fact that the Italian artil.
lery fired 10000 shells in twelve hours
Situation Rsassuring."
ROME, Sunday, June 16-The situa.
fion on the Italian front in its en-.
tirety seems very reassuring, says 8
semi-ofiicial note issued tonight. 1t 1.
added that the great battle which
broke out Saturday has but begun
Although having a strength Of sixt,
divisions the enemy attacking force,
have not succeeded in passing thu
italian advanced area at any point.
Austrian pressure continues yer,
strong along the entire front. Thu
enemy is concentrating most power.
full and fierce attacks astride tn,
Brenta and across the Piave. and it i,
still possible fog the fighting line t.
flow backward or forward.
The enemy based his enterprise OF
various factors to assure him a vic
tory, says the semi-official note
There was relatively brief but ex
s tremeiy violent artillery preparation
with a large number Of gas shells
This bombardment was for the pur
sose of destroying the Italian from
line and paralyzing the Italian artiI
lery. Then under cover OF an arti
hcial fog from bombs and smoke ap