The sun., 1918-07-04
NAVY HELPS IN
HEAVY BLOW IN
FLOODED LAND
Italians Also Consolidate
Positions They Gained in
San Lorenzo Valley.
COUNTER DRIVE REPULSED
Austrians Assert That Two
Attempts to Cross the Piave
Were Beaten OFF.

PARIS. July 3.-The Italians suddenly
have transferred their main offensive
movement from the mountain regions
to the lower Piave, where by a success
sion of heavy strokes against the Aus
trians they have advanced against des-
pcrate enemy resistance. Tho state
ment OF the War Office in Rome to-day
says that 1900 Austrians were taken
prisoner in the new smash OF the Ital-
Ians, together with machine guns, trench
guns and war materials. The fighting
was over a flooded section of the coun-
try, close to the point where the Piave
enters the Adriatic.
Vienna, in its statement of the fight
ing on the Piave front. mentions the at
tack by the Italians and asserts that 1t
was a failure. The Austrians charge
that the Italians made two unsuccessful
attempts to cross the river. one near the
mouth and the other In the vicinity OF
Zenson.
on the Asiago Plateau the Italians
are holding all their recent gains and
have repelled Austrian counter attacks
which were launched with the idea of
recapturing the ground. Following the
repulse OF these attacks the Italians have
consolidated the positions and awaiting
new moves by the enemy. In the hight
ing in the mountain section the Italians
have added 621 more Austrians to the
roll of captives and have taken twenty
two more machine guns and quantities
Of war material.
The official statements on the fshting
follow:
fTALIAN-On the lower Piave We
carried out yesterday a series OF ener-
getic thrusts, gaining ground in spite
OF the obstinate resistance OF the en-
emy, who attempted to take every ad-
! vantage Of the difficult zone, which
was partly flooded We took about
800 prisoners, including forty-five Of
Acers. together with machine guns
! small trench guns and various ma
terlal
In the region northwest OF the
Grappa, having successfully stemned
an enemy counter attack at the heau
| of the San Lorenzo valley. the valiant
troops of the Ninth Army Corps con-
| solidated themselves in the positions
reached yesterday with such great
elan. The total number of prisoners
! has reached twenty-five officers ana
596 Of other ranks. We also took
| twenty-five machine guns ana a large
! quantity Of war material.
! On the As.ago plateau French
parties, during brilliant raids In the
Zoochi region. brought back prisoners.
ACSTRIAN-Early yesterday morn
| ing on the whole Piave front from
| Susegana downward the Italians be-
gan a violent bombardment, which In
creased to drumfire in several sectors
| south of San Dona di Piave. A few
hours later the enemy's infantry ad-
vanced to the attack In the region Of
the mouth OF the Piave.
After bitter fighting lasting the en-
tire day the enemy was unable TO OBJ
tain any success with the exception of
| n slight gain of territory near Chiesa-
nuova.
An attempt to land infantry on the
south wing near Revedoii. which was
supported by enemy naval forces,
broke down An Italian attempt to
effect crossing near Zenson was
| frustrated
On the Venetian mountain front the
fighting activity has been extraordi-
narily lively. West OF Asolone strong
attack was repulsed In n counter at
tack by the tried Lower Austrian
Forty-ninth Infantry Regiment north
of Col del Rosso. Near Asiago We
threw back Italian infantry attacks.
There were moderate artillery duels
on the Tyrol west front.