Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1918-06-26
AMERICAN FLYERS
ON WAY To FRONT
To HELP ITALIANS
Rome Says Aviators Are Ready
for Action.
ENEMY GAINS NEAR VENICE
Official Rome Statement Says Thou
sands Of Austrian Corpses Are
Strewn Along Battlefield
Small Gains by
Foe.

Washington, June 20.-The first es-
cadrille of American aviators trained
in Italy started for the Italian front
and will go into action Immediately
upon their arrival, the Italian embassy
was informed by cable from Rome.
The aviators are accompanied by Capt.
La Guardia, member of congress,
who has been in Italy several months.
Austrians Make Small Gains.
London, June 20-The Austrian of
fensive continues along the whole
Italian front. They are throwing in
division after division. reckless of the
cost in lives, but the advances which
they made are comparatively slight.
The official report issued in Vienna
claims the Austrians have crossed the
Fossalta canal at several points. This
is in the region of the lower Piave be-
tween ZensOn and the Gulf of Venice,
where the Austrians drove their way
across the Piave during the first days
of the offensive.
1t represents their nearest advance
to Venice, which lies only few miles
TO the southwest.
Pay Terrific Cost.
The official report from Rome does
not deny that the enemy has made adj
vances here, but says the Italian line,
still unbroken, is taking terrific toll
in lives for every foot of ground given
up to the enemy.
Further north along the Piave, the
lin &c firm r
ing all efforts of the enemy to make
a crossing.
The success they are having is
shown by the fact that the Italians
have captured since the beginning of
the offensive prisoners to the number
of 9,011 and have taken many guns
and several hundred machine guns.
Slight Gain in North.
On the northern front the Austrians
were able to advance at only one point.
This was in the vicinity of Monticello.
The Austrians have gained some
ground in the lowlands both east and
west of the mountain, but the heights
still remain in the hands of the de-
tenders.
Monte Grappa, slightly to the west,
were -repuIsed, and further westward
the italian line was advanced in local
fighting on the Asiago plateau.
Gain Along Piage.
London, June 19-With their second
line penetrated in the crucial battle
along the Piave river, the italian
armies stemmed the Austrian rush in
this sector.
At all other points along the 100
mile front of attack they either had
launched coutner-offensives -~or had
fought the invaders to standstill.
The Austrian losses are described as
terrific
An official Italian statement says
thousands of Austrian corpses are
strewn along the Piave battlefield.
The Austrians, according to the Eve
ming Standard, now occupy the west
bank of the Piave from the Conegliano
railway TO the ZemSon bend, dis
lance of a mile and a half. They have
thrown IA bridges across the river.
These, however, are under the Italian
fire.
The failure of the Austrian offensive
IN the mountains, the most critical
sector, is shown in Italian official state
ments.
1t is believed that the Italians have
every prospect of restoring the posi-
lions ON the Piave.
The British held the post of honor
in the mountains, and how well they
rose to the occasion is proved by the
remark of correspondent that "the
results of the enemy attack suggest
that it was the British who carried
out the most successful offensive"
The Austrians undoubtedly hoped to
sweep into the plains and crush Italy,
but the latter's achievement in resist
ing the first onslaught is assurance
that she is capable of defending her
position.
Foe Claims 10000 captives.
Vienna, June 19.-The number of
prisoners taken so far in the drive on
the Italian front is 10000, the war
office announced The total of guns
taken is 40. On their south wing the
Austrians have reached the Fossalta
canal, the statement says.