The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1918-01-12
BRITISH TROOPS
CROSS The PAVE.
Prisoners Captured and DAM
age inflicted on the TeutOn
Forces in Italy.
HEAVY GUNS ACTIVE IN WEST
Artillery Fire Increasing Around Cam
brai ans South of Lens-French
Successful in Raid.

London, Jan. An official state
ment on the campaign in the Italian
front, issued by the British war office
tonight, says:
In Italy one Of our battalions made
a successful and difficult raid across
the Piave last night, capturing prison
ers and inflicting considerable dam
age Our losses were slight
Field Marshal Haig's report from
headquarters in France tonight says
Early this morning the enemy at
tempted raid on one Of our posts
east Of Epehy, but was driven off by
machine gun fire before reaching our
positions.
The hostile artillery has shown in
creased activity during the day south
west and west Of Cambria. II also was
active at q number of points south of
Lens to Armentieres and in the neigh
bOrhOOd OF ZOnnebeke"
French Carried Out a Raid.
Paris, Jan 4-The official commu-
nicatiOn from the war office tonight
says
activity at several points along the
front; 1t was more spirited on the
right bank of the Meuse. in the re-
gion of the Bots des Posses, Thiau-
mont and Louvemont-
This morning, northeast Of Fort de
Ia POmpeIle. we carried out a raid
which enabled Us to bring back pris-
oneTs-
Eastern theater, January >: There
was reciprocal artillery activity on the
British front Quiet prevailed on the
remainder Of the front"
Italians Check TeUtons.
Washington, Jan 3.-Snow and cold
weather are giving the Italians
chance further 10 strengthen their
northern line against the Austro-Ger-
mans. Aside from reciprocal artillery
duels little fighting of moment is in
progress In an endeaYor TO offset
their loss Of ground resulting from
having been driven back across the
lower PiaYe river, the enemy has tried
TO effect q landing on the west bank
OF the stream a short distance from
the mouth Of the river. His boats,
however, were caught under the fire
of the Italian guns and the project had
to be given up
Austrian-German airmen continue
TO bomb towns on the Venetian plains.
Treviso and Basssno have again been
attacked, and bombs also were
dropped on Mestre. Little damage
was done by the bombs Three Of the
enemy aircraft were shot down In
l.
Apparent proof that the Germans
are preparing for a big offensive is
the almost continuous bombardment
Of various sectors along the British
and French fronts. Aside from these
bombardments there has been little
activity except by small raiding par
ties. A heavy snow is falling and an
other cold wave has set in on the
/ French front from St Quentin 10 the
' Vosges mountains.
British Dropped 200 Bombs.
London, Jan S-More than two hun
dred bombs were dropped Tuesday on
various targets, including a large am
munition depot near Courtrai and the
I Inglemunster airdome, according to an
I official statement tonight on the
aerial operations.
In air fighting" continues the
statement, two hostile machines
Z were brought down and two others
driven down out of control Another
was shot down inside our lines by an
ti-aircraft guns One of our machines
is missing"
Italians Defeat Teutons-
Washington, Jan 2--Another re-
verse for the Teutonic allied armies
1 following that effected By the French
I troops in their initial drive On the
northern front in Italy has been
brought about by the Italians in a
sharp attack in the famous Zenson
loop on the lower reaches Of the
/ Piave river
Here the enemy has been driven 70
the eastern bank Of the stream from
I positions he has held since the Italians
in their retrograde movement from the
Isonzo made their stand along the
western shore Of the Piave. Thus the
| entire right bank OF the Piave has
been cleared Of the invaders except far