The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-07-01
FRENCH DRIVE
HUNS BACK ON
2-M|LE FRONT
Enemy Positions Penetrated to
Depth of Half Mile South of
Ourcq River.
IMPORTANT RIDGE IS TAKEN
Italians Launch Heavy Attack in
Mountains and Capture Monte
Di VaIbelIa and 800 Pris-
oners.


London, July 1.-French troops
gained half mile on front Of nearly
two miles in an offensive south of the
OurcU river.
This is the second big march by the
French within three days and is be-
lieved in some quarters here to indi-
cate that General Foch is "jockeying"
for position to launch a great counter
thrust against the German armies in
France.
In their latest operation the French
carried the important ridge which ex-
tends between Mosloy and Passy- En-
Valois. This height is seven miles
southeast Of Villers- -Cotterets. which
the Germans attempted to turn in their
last drive for Compeigne from the
north and east of that rail gate to
Paris.
French Take 265 Prisoners.
Prisoners to the number of 265, in
Guiding three officers, were taken In
the thrust
Further to the north, where the
French last week gained a mile and
a quarter on four and half mile
front, the Germans had massed for
cOunter-attack in the neighbOrhOOd Of
Cutry, just southwest of Soissons.
Allied aviators dropped five tons of
bombs into the assembling ranks and
broke up the attempted attack.
A number of raids were made by the
French over night, particularly in the
Hangard sector before Amiens. and in
the Vosges d German local attack was
rcpulSed.
The French also improved their posi-
tions south of the Aisne in the region
of st. Pierre Aig1e and captured 10C
/ prisoners.
New Drive Near.
With the British Army In France.
July 1.-Intense enemy artillery fire
rocked the British line with its
sinister detOnatiOns, and the tension
which has existed along this front ap-
pears to have increased. But the Ger
man offensive still remains merely in
cprtain-when the enemy does strike
he will hit hard. 1t is predicted that
there will be more terrific fighting than
has developed this year. At any mo-
ment the storm may break. The allied
troops are awaiting it with grim de-
termination and confidence.
italians Win in Mountains.
London, July 1.-Italan troops have
stormed and carried Monte di Val
bella. the dominating peak Of the ASi-
ago plateau in the center of the north
crn front. Tho victory was won after
bitter struggle.
The Italan infantry was supported
on either flank by British and French
troops and intense artillery fire from
their own guns.
The mou1~ain vas won Saturday.
throughout Saturday night and Sun
day the AuStrianS delivered heavy
counter-attaclls III! of which were
, repulsed.
Enemy Is Decmated.
The official statement from Rome
saws: Large enemy masses were
launched in cOunterattack and to
slaughter, but were repulsed by our
infantry and decimated by cOncentra-
tions of artillery fire and machine gun
| fire from airplanos. The position
carried was VIGOROUSLY held"
The 800 prisoners acquired by the
! Italians have been identified as be-
longing to four divisions, which shows
! that the important peak was held by
| a garrison of about $4,000 men.
Cannon, trench mOrtars and numer-
! ous machine guns are included in the
| booty captured.
Between the Frenzella valley and
the Brenta, also on the northern front,
| the Italians carried a fortified observa-
ton post on the southern slopes Of
| Sasso RossO and captured two officers
| and 81 men.