Evening star., 1918-06-23
ITALY FORWARNED
OF AUSTRIAN DRIVE
Knew to Minute How and
Where, and Were Ready
{ to Meet Enemy Attack.

{ to Meet Enemy Attack.
BY EDGAR ANsEL MowRER.
CaHIexram to The Evening star and
Chicago Daily News. Copyright 1915
ITALIAN ARMY HEADoUAR-
TIERS June 10 (delayed).-The fact
that Austro-Hungary was about TO
launch q great offensive was known
oven a. to the exact hour the attack
was to begin. It's general directions
were revealed to the Italian general
staff and whispered among the news
paper correspondents week before
1t occurred.
Originally the attack was set for
May 1, but this was on the presump-
tion that the German March and April
offensives would secure complete sue
cess The plan also called for the
help of two German armies, one OF
which, under Gen. Won Bulow. was to
invade the Italian plain through the
Val Lagarina and the other. under
Gen. Won Bothmer, through the hith-
erto impregnable defile of Val Brenta.
Plan Went Askew.
Things did not turn out as ex-
pected. The German commanders.
finding themselves unable to send
troops to aid the Austrians, ordered
them to attack alone. These were
decided to fight made the immense
preparations about which so much
has been written recently.
Their assemblage Of artillery was
particularly heavy. Both newly
manufactured guns and thousands
and Russia were brought to this
front to reinforce the large number
already here.
Up to the time this dispatch is writ
ten the enemy has in no place sue
ceeded in scoring a tsaa strategic asMsian aaXan-
ment. The Italian front still is in
tact.
The vastly superior number of the
enemy forces permitted their leaders
to avoid using. the troops OF all the
Slavic element which might have
proved source of weakness. OF more
than 5000 prisoners captured by the
Italians in the first onslaught all were
either Hungarfans or Teutonic Aus
trians. Each command was provided
win SpCNA0A2y oPboAhsSo WI AAAe-AA
staff officer.
The plan Of attack involved cross
ing the Piave. Hence for some months
past special establishments at Santo
Stino di Livenza have been building
RATS, boats and windlas ferries.
Offensive Army Immense.
provided with immense strategic re-
serves, consisting Of an entire army
fresh from Russia and Rumania. These.
like the other troops, had been purified
OF any bolshevik or other uncertain ele-
Ments.
The Italian morale was never finer
The troops awaited the shock with con-
ddence.
At 3:o5 o'clock Saturday morning. the
precise moment when the Austro-Hun-
Earian troops opened fire, the Italian
counter batteries broke into thunder all
along the line. The roar Of the double
bombardment was SO mighty that at
Padua, thirty miles distant. people were
awakened from their sleep and the win
dows shook
This unexpected reply to their fire dis
concerted the Austrians. Nevertheless
the bombardment continued.
The system Of attack was similar to
that adopted in Franco compare
lively short bombardment Of three or
four hours with a liberal use Of tear and
sheIIs. This conformed to the latest latest
German tactics.
In France. however. the Germans are
within the arc Of the circle and can con-
centrate thei. reserves more quickly
than the allies. Here the Italians have
sledge-hamZner drive was. therefore,
impossible.
Attack Along Whole Front.
The enemy attacked along the
whole front. hoping by this screen
Of aggressiveness. hide the objec-
tives. These, however, soon became
evident.
The enemy aimed at Bassano on
the Brenta and Treviso, hoping to
force the entire line. The attacks
Val Dasso to Monteilo the armies so Of
Field Marshal Scheurchenstel and
Gen. EnriQuez headed southwark
across the mountains From Montel-
10 to the Venetian lagoon the dou-
pc Isonzo army tried to force the
The enemy offensive momentum, es-
pecially in the mountains. was tre-
mendous; His troops. which for
tack. failed between the Val d:Assa
and the Brenta river to gain anything
but enc or two insignificant gains.
The inevitable initial successes were
everywhere reduced to the minimum.
With equal impetus. threw themselves
on the adversaries and where these
had gained ground hurled them back.
In the vast chaotic struggle over un-
equal crests and valleys the achieve
ments Of the Italian brigade which
fstook Surgie mountain In a splendid
attack merits all praise.
Between the Brenta and the Piave
the enemy forces were perhaps denser
than elsewhere. Near Brenta Satur-
day morning they gained possession
Of Col Moschin and penetrated to the
vast mountain outpost called Monte
8olarolo.
Brilliant Counter Attack.
The Italians Of the 4th army organ
ised . brilliant counter attack and
Tetook Col Moschin in ten minutes of
fighting. They also retook Monte
Asolone and positions a mile to the
northward. The spirit which ami
mated these troops won the special
approval Of the king.
1t was on Montello ridge where the
snemy appeared in the greatest num-
After q violent bombardment, in
which gas and smoke shells were
freely used. he succeeded in gaining
q foothold on the northeastern slopes
He was assisted in this operation by
q strong attack from the side Of
Nerposa. The fighting in this locality
at last accounts was still in progress
The character Of the fighting
varied greatly from place to place.
cd to meet at any point italian troops
Hlied with the spirit of Caporette