Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-06-23
GERMANS
RUSH men
TO ITALY
Second Phase of Offensive
Is Expected to Begin Any
Day; Americans Keep Up
Intense Activity.
Thermometer readings;

Blocked in their advance
across the Piave river by the ]
Italians and British and with
their line of communications
threatened by the rising waters
of that stream, the Austr0-
Hungarians apparently have
closed the first phase Of their
offensive against Italy.
Viewed after a week OF
fighting, the offensive has been
little more than a demonstra-
ton in force over a battle line
more than 80 miles in length.
1t has gained none Of its objec-
tives and has cost the Austrians
very dearly.
From the first day of the attack il
was seen that the Italians were not
called upon to meet tremendous on
slaught on some strategic key 20 their
position, such as was launched at Ca-
poretto last October. They had
rather to defend their lines over 1
wide front against attacks which
were launched seemingly without suf-
fcient power to penetrate more than
some of the: advanced posts Of the
Italians and their allies.
Troops Massed in Mountains.
The second phase of the offensive
is expected to begin at any time. 1t
is not believed that the Austrians will
be willing, nor will they be permitted
by Germany, to end their drive
against Italy with the results irldicat-
ing an almost total failure. There
have been intimations that Germany
would assist in the attack which Il.
coming, and which may be launched
against the mountain sector of the
front. Large bodies Of men have
been assembled there.
Austria Torn BY Riots.
Tie serious food shortage III Aus
tria- Hungary has given rise to sem
sational rumors. One:of these, from
Amsterdam. says an attempt has been
made on the life of Emperor Charles.
This rumor lacks confirmation. There
is little doubt conditions in Austria
are near a crisis. Little of the true
status of affairs can be learned. but
the little news that filters through
neutral countries shows that the Aus
trian people are on short rations. that
serious rioting has occurred and that
general strikes are feared. In a clash
between police and strikers at Buda-
pest, IS persons are reported to have
been killed or wounded.
Bulgaria War Weary.
A Bulgarian commission has ar
rived in Vienna, according to dis
patches from The Hague, for the pur-
pose of negotiating with the Austrian {
government concerning a change in
relations with Germany This,
coupled with the fact that the present /
premier of Bulgaria was opposed to /
an alliance with Germany before Bull
garia entered the war, and the known
war -tiredness of the bulgarian peopley
may be significant.
Since the abortive attack on the
Rheims front early in the week the
western front has been quiet. There
have been patrol encounters and the
usual operations along the fronts
where great battles were being
waged during the recent past, but
nothing resembling a new drive BY
the Germans at the allied line has
been reported. Berlin officially re-
ports the presence of Italian troops
in the Rheims sector.
Americans Push Lines Forward.
American forces have continued
their intense activity on the fronts !.
where they are holding positions.
Northwest of Chateau Thierry they
have pushed their lines forward once
more and east of the city have bqnl-
barded bodies of German troops.
1t is reported that Nicolai Ienine,
the bolshevik premier Of Russia, has
decided to resign. in spite of a vote OF
confidence given him by the soviet
committee. The Czecho-S1ovak
movement has become so menacing
east of the Ural mountains that Mich 4
olas Romanoff, the former Russian
emperor, has been removed to Mos
cow.
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