The Mankato free press., 1918-11-01
ALLIES FORGING AHEAD
OBSTACLES EASILY PUSHED
ASIDE BY TROOPS
Undaunted Champions of Cause
Of Democracy Move Forward
To Their Victory

With the italian Army in North
ern Italy, Oct. 30.-The towns of
VaIdobbiadene and ConesIiano, on
the eastern side of the Piave river,
Northern Italy, have been taken
by Allied troops from the Austro-
Hunearians.
London, Oct. a0-ln the Italian
theater over front of nearly 20
miles from the Brenta to the mid
die reaches of the Piave river, the
British, French and italian armies
are developing with success an Of
fensive against the Gustro-Hun-
garians and are swiftly driving
them from the mountain passes
toward the Austrian frontier and
across the plains east of the Piave
In northern Italy.
American reserves are behind
the lines prepared to aid the Allies
when the opportune moment ar
rives.
London, Oct 30. - On the Italian
front British, French and Italian troops
have crossed the Piave river over a
wide front and have taken more than
$4,000 prisoners. The Allied forces
are threatening the important railway
points of Conegliano and Oderzo and
two of the three railway lines support
ing the Austrians on the Piave line.
On the western front in France
heavy fighting virtually is at a stand
still on the front northward from lie
Cateau to the Dutch frontier, but
from the Disc to east of the Meuse
Allied pressure continues, with gains
for the French between the Disc and
the Serre.
Americans in Gun Duel.
An intense artillery duel is in prog
Tess on the American front northwest
Of Verdun, but no infantry fighting has
been reported
While the Allies have thrown forces
across the Piave on a front of about
80 miles, the heaviest fighting has
Deen along stretch of seven miles
hetween Conegliano and Oderzo,
where the Italians and British have
advanced more than three miles, max
ing formidable wedge in the Aus.
trian positions east CT the river and
between two Of their main communi-
cation lines.
Two Miles From Rail Points.
The Allies are within two miles of
both Conegliano and Oderzo Along
the Piave south of Oderzo there has
been little fighting, but the Allied ad.
vance in the north would tend to force
the Austrians to evacuate the low
lands of the lower Piave
Apparently the Allied thrusts in the
mountain zone between the Piave and
the Brenta were feints for the purpose
of attracting the attention Of the enc.
my from the more formidable move
ment across the Piave. Troops and
supplies are being rushed to the Piave
front and it is evidently purposed to
force the offensive to the utmost
v. S. Troops in Reserve.
In addition to the British, Italian
and French troops already taking part
in the fighting, American troops are
reported to be in reserve. The Ameri-
can infantry force is not large, prob
ably two regiments or less, and not
unlikely the Americans will be brigad.
ed with the Italians or British. The
fighting east of the Piave has been
heavy, the Austrians struggling bit.
terly to prevent the Allies from en-.
larginS their gains to the east bank.
East of the Disc on the French front,
the army of General Debeney rapidly is
encircling Guise. On the south the
French are in the suburbs of the town
and have captured German first line
trenches besides enemy barracks and
hospital.