The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-06-17
Austrians Were Met With
Heavy Counter Attack.
Diaz. Threw Down Heavy Bar
rage on Enemy.
VO SUCH GAINS As IN FRANCE
Same Tactics Used as ON AiSne
and SOmme.
Rear Positions Were Drenched
With Gas.

based his present enterprise on various
factors to assure him a victory, says
the Italian semi-official note. There
was a relative brief but extremely
violent artillery preparation with a
large number of gas shells This
bombardment was for the purpose OF
destroying the Italian front line and
paralyzing the Italian artillery. Then,
under cover of an artificial fog, from
bomb and smoke apparatus, the enemy
in open formation advanced to the
attack The enemy placed such faith
in this preparation that he fixed his
objectives for the first days fighting
more than fifteen kilometers in ad-
vance and planned to descend from
the mountain area and also reach the
city of Treviso from the Piave river.
Bombardment Frustrated.
The enemy's bombardment was
frustrated by the formidable fire from
the Italian artillery, which destroyed
lines and shelters and made full hits
on massed troops as well as drenched
his battle emplacements with gas.
When the enemy infantry advanced IN
to the front line zones they found
that resistance had been prepared 1or
by the Italian machine guns and had
u
Italian supporting troops. This re-
suited in the loss of a great part OF
the advantage he had gained and ne
left prisoners and machine guns In
the hands of the Italians.
This is what happened to the AUS
trians along the whole front OF the
attack. North of Cekuna an advance
group of British, which was passed
and surrounded by the Austrians. re-
sisted until a counter attack treeo
them and at the same time captured
900 prisoners. Southwest OF Neunar,
the French recaptured 2 strong POM
And took 1876 prisoners. From MO-
schin to Monte Fenera the Fourth
army completely regained its advanced
positions on Asolone, Pertica, Solarolo
and Perte Di Salton, where the enemy
had made slight progress. A storm
ing detachment retook Col Meschln,
with ESQ prisoners.
Pushing Enemy Back Across Piave.
Altogether between the Brenta and
the Piave $50 prisoners were captured;
South Of Montello the enemy crossed
the Piave with considerable forces, but
is being gradually pushed toward the
river by the Italian reactions. On the
lower Piave the enemy passed the
river between Candelu and Zenson
loop in the region of S. Dona Pi Piave.
The enemy was Immediately checked
to the bank of the river. One thousand
five hundred and forty-five prisoners,
Including 1 colonel, 2 majors and AZ
other officers were made prisoner by
the Third army. Altogether 5000
prisoners, including SO officers. were
taken by the Italians and their allies
in the first day of the struggle which
was to have been a great success fol-
the Austrians but which resulted in q
| dismal failure.
At Italian army headquarters satis-
, faction is felt over the situation on
every part of the front The general
commanding the artillery corps in the
Montegrappa region said to the cores
| pondent:
Now send US only four divisions OF
Americans. We will first shake hands
and then travel together into Austria
+, The severity of the fighting or
Montegrappa may be understood from
the fact that the italian artillery fired
TO, 900 shells in twelve hours.
While the situation along the grea'
crescent battle line in northern Italy
remains somewhat obscure 1t seem.
| that the Austrians have accomplish
ed little at the inception Of their drive
against the Italian and allied armies
From the lower Ptave river and north
! ward along that stream come encour
aging reports telling of the enemy be
ing checked and at some points beinl
hurled back across the stream. From
the Piave to the Brenta where tn,
Teutons advanced thru mountain ra
vines in their attempts to break thr,
the allied lines the situation seems t,
be well in hand.
Across Piave In Three Places.
It now appears that the Austrian
made three successful attempts t
cross the Piave. One was south o
Montello, where the battle line leave
the Piave river and mounts to tn
| westward into the Alps. One was be
tween Candelu and Zenson loop wher
the Austrians effected a crossing las
November and held a bridgehead 70
some time. The other was at s. Don
Pi Piave, about IL miles from tn
: L u nru