Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1918-06-28
ITALIANS START
COUNTER BLOW
Attack In Mountain Region and
Make Gains Despite Strong
Austrian Resistance.
FOE IN FULL RETREAT
Enemy Forces Are Reported Surround
ed and Facing Final Destruction
Allies Await Expected Blow on
Western Front.


Rome, June 27.-Italian troops
forced the last rear guard Of the
retreating Austrians to surrender
and completely reoccupied the
west bank of the Piave, the war
office announces.
On the mountain front between
the Piave and the Brenta in the
Monte Grappa sector the Italians
vigorously attacked the Austrians
infIictIng heavy losses upon the
enemy and gaining considerable
ground.
More than 5000 more prison
ers were taken by the Italians on
the Piave an d mountain front.
London, June 27.-It is learned from
an authoritative source tina tthe Ital
ians have started a counter offensive
in the mountain region. The Aus
TRANS are making strong resistance
but the Italians are gaining.
In Full Retreat.
Washington, June 26.-An official
dispatch from Rome says the Austri
ans are in full retreat, and that papers
taken from prisoners show that Aus
tria had not contemplated the posi-
bility of defeat and was promising her
soldiers this offensive would be the
last stroke to put Italy out of the war.
Troops Surrounded.
Rome, June 26.-The Giornale d
Italia says the troops of Archduke
Joseph and General Wurm are vir-
tually surrounded and must surrender
or be annihilated
'The Italians have occupied enemy
trenches on Monte Valbelia and Monte
AsOlone and have captured Hill 1873.
Prisoners are still coming in" said
a statement by the Italian war office.
The Austrians have been swept
across the Piave on the whole front
from Monticello to the sea, except for
a three mile sector between Musile
and Capo Sile, where covering forces
is still holding out. it was added.
Austrians Pursued.
London, June 26.-Austria' armies
again are beyond the Pave and the
river line once more bars the enemy
from the Venetian plain. The crushed
Austrian forces not only are pursued
to the river but the Italians at points
have occupied strong bridgeheads on
the eastern bank
How thorough the Italian victory
has been is not yet clear, as every
hour brings reports of increasing Aus
trian losses. Many thousands of the
invaders were killed il their attempt
to regain the eastern bank of the river
and the latest announcement from
General Diaz places the number of
prisoners alone at 100000 One report
places the Austrian casualties at 200-
900 men, In addition the enemy lost
large stores of munitions and supplies
and many guns.
Pave Flood Ended
Apparently the sudden torrent in
the Piave, which played havoc with
Austrian communications, fell as
quickly as it rose and the river bed
was dry when the Austrian retreat
began. This enabled the enemy to
get many of their troops across, other
wise his losses would have been
measureably greater.
RIo,., - Wse% A,n,;&.d
Along the front from the North sea
to Switzerland the Allied armies are
awaiting another blow from the Ger
mans Premier Lloyd George has told
the British house of commons that
another gigantic enemy effort is COM
ing with a few days, possibly within
a few hours. The Allies are ready T.
combat it.