Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1918-07-06
austria's Great Offensive in
North Italy Proves to Be
an Utter Failure.
STOPPED WITH HUGE LOSSES
Revolt Spreading Fast In the Dual
kngdom--Powerfu German Al
tack on Rems Completely
Repulsed-Draft Age Linz
it to Be Extended.
By EDWARD w. PICARD.

Austria's record of never winning
when she goes into battle unaided by
the Germans was magniticently sus-
tanned last week. Starting the long
heralded offensive with nearly oil the
forces at his command, Field Marshal
Won Borevic made Il desperate effort
TO force his way across the Pave and
down into the Venetian plains, With
Treyiso, Bassano and then Verona as
his detectives. His men were given
postcard maps with the route and
schedule marked and were urged to
do their utmost in order that they
might get the plentiful food in the
promised land" Approximately a
million Austrian soldiers assaiIed the
Italian lines from Asiago to the Adri-
attic, but King Victor Emmanue's
Ia meet them. At the western or
mountain end the enemy made no
progress at all, being moved down
in masses that fairly blocked the road
ways and passes. All attacks on the
AsiAgo plateau, which, Is of great im-
portance because of its easy APP
M&aches from the Austrian side,
were beaten off by the British under
Lord Cavan, and the enemy's attempts
on Monte Grapna We're no more sue
cessful. 1t was between these points,
L'tsonUAfp vol
leys, that the Austrans hoped to push
ia west point Of Il pincer's move
ment that should flank Treviso and
he entire line to the coast
The high land at AI0ntello was the
scene Of most sanguinary fighting and
the enemy made some Roadway there
for a day or two, but gained little save
a shocking casualty list, Further
east, at various points the Austrians
we're able to force crossings Of the
Piave by means OF bridges construct
ed under cover of gas and smoke
Smelling, but after getting across the
troops found themselves in traps
from which they could not escGpe
With their lives, for the batteries Of
the allies on the higher ground had
them ut their mercy. only near the
extreme eastern end Of the line, be
tween the Zenson loop and the Adria-
attic, did Borevlc's forces achieve any
thing that resembled success. There
they pushed far enough south Of the
Piave to reach the Fossalta canal,
and Vienna claimed this was crossed.
Here the enemy was about ten miles
from Venice, but the resistance Of the
Italians was so determined that no
anxiety was felt for that city's safety.
Before the week closed the enemy in
that region had been driven back.
Most of the p0ntoon bridges were
swept away by the swollen Piave.
Pa
In n word. the great Austrian often
slye. up to the close Of the week. was
IN absolute failure and was admitted
TO be such by captured officers and
by some of the Vienna newspapers
The italian army, never in better
than now fought with the
utmost gallantry aud spirit and was
ably aided by the British and French
contlngents. Mention must be made,
too of the Americans, for nm esca-
irllle Of American aylators, trained in
Italy, went to the front and give
notable help in driving the Austrian
from the air.
Ia
Defeat in Italy may mean absolute /
disaster TO the Austro-iIungarian en-
Dire. for its heterogeneous peoples al |
ready are beginning to rebel against |
he rule that has brought them to the
verge of starvation, has claimed the |
Ives of hundreds Of thousands Of |
heir men. and has given them moth
c brr false promises Of victory. In !