The Sentinel=record., 1918-06-16
Italians Are in Better Position Than When Previous Attack Was Made and Are Confident of Defeating the Enemy--Germans Have Made No Attempt to Resume Offensive in France

New York, June 15.-The long awaited Austrian offensive against the Italians has begun On the Ital- ian front for a distance of from E to 100 miles, the Austrian troops and heavy artillery are endeayoring to break down the resistance of the ital- ians, who are aided by French and British forces.
 The Italian premier, Vittorio Or lando, announced in the chamber of deputies that the Italian troops were everywhere resisting magnificently' '
 The last great Austro-German of fensive, begun in October, 1917, rolled back General Cadorna's line from the Isonzo front and along the Venetian plain. More than a million enemy troops participated in this operation and it was not for many weeks that the Italians were able to stay the ad- vance. About the middle of Noyem- Der the Piave battle began along a ninety mile front in northern Italy and French and British troops were hur- ,ssied to reinforce the shaken Italia- army. The crisis was passed about the first of December and since that time there has been heavy fighting in which the Italians and their alnes carried out many successful counter attacks
 There have been insistent cries from Germany for Austrian action along the Italian front, to coordinate with the German offensive in the western zone and for months past the Italians have been preparing for jus, such a blow as apparently is now be ing struck. The Italian army has been re- equipped and General D.az has succeeded General Cadorna as the commander-in-c The present bat tie line extends from Asiago to the sea.
 Grave events are reported to be i'm pending in Austria, according to un- confirmed advices from Spain and Holland. It is said that rioting has been going on in Vienna and matters have come to critical stage.
 How serious the situation has be- come is not as yet known. There have been outbreaks in various parts of the country, notably in Bohemia and Moravia, and the political tension between Austria and Hungary nas been one of the features of the news emanating from the dual monarchy Jor some time.
 Checked in their plungs against the French positions from NIontdidier to the Disc, the Germans have not re- sumed their offensive on the western front. There has been patrol encoun- ters at various points, with the allies improving their positions, notably of the Villers-Cottrets region southwest of Soissons.
 The inactivity of the infantry, how ever. has given place to heavy borr bardmants along the front In this work the American forces have had a part. fingered by gas attack against them by the Germans the Americans launched thousands of gas shells against the enemy. The Amer 1cNnS OH iHt Nldiilt anu ' Nf A''+'NN' have also given the Germans no rest from patrol incursions.
 It is believed in Paris and London that not many days will elapse before the Germans begin a new assault against the allies. lt is known thAt Crown Prince Ruppreeht of Bavaria has largo reserves which are some where along the SOmme and Flandeis is fronts. opinion is divided as to the point against which the blow win oe struck. Paris, believing that the Ger mans will continue their thrust toward fhe eanIal either by continuation of the fighting west ot the oise or nag assault further south toward the Marne.
 London. however. believes that the German drives aloug the Aisne ana east ef Montdldier were tor the puf-