Licking Valley courier., 1918-06-27
NEWS REVIEW OF
The PAST Week
Austrla's Great Offensive in
North Italy Proves to Be
an Utter Failure.
STOPPED With HUGE LOSSES
Revolt Spreading Fast in the Dual
Kingdom-Powerfu German At
tack on Reims Completely
RepuIsed-Draft Age Lin
1t to Be Extended.
BY EDWARD w. PIcKARp.

Austria'S record of never winning
when she goes into battle unalded by
the Germans was magniticently sus-
tanned last week. Starting the long
heralded offensive with nearly all the
forces at his command, Field Marshal
Won Borevic made desperate effort
TO force his. way across the Plave aud
si s.,Ss iStc the Venetian plains. with
Treviso, Bassano and then Verona as
his detectives. His men were given
postcard maps with the route and
schedule marked, and were urged to
do their utmost In order that they
might get the plentiful food in the
"promised land" Approximately
million Austrian soldiers assailed the
Italian lines from Asiago to the Adri-
attic, but King Victor EmmanuePs
splendid army was everywhere ready
to meet them. At the western or
mountain end the enemy made no
progress at all, being moved down
In masses that fairly blocked the road
ways and passes. All attacks on the
Aslago plateau, which is Of great i'm
portance because of its easy ap-
proaches from the Austrian side,
were beaten Off by the British under
Lord Cavan, and the enemy's attempts
on Monte Grappa were no more sue
cessful. 1t was between these points,
down the Brenta and Frenzela val
leys. that the Austrians hoped to push
the west point OF a piucer's move
ment that should flank Treviso and
the entire line to the coast
The high land ut Montelo was the
scene of most sanguinary lighting ana
the enemy made some headway there
for day or two, but gained little save
q shocking casualty list. Further
east, at various points, the AuStrians
were able to force crossings of the
Piave by means OF bridges construct
ed under cover Of gas and smoke
shelllng, but after getting across the
troops found themselves In traps
from which they could not escape
with their lives for the batteries OF
the allies on the higher ground had
them at their mercy. Only near the
extreme eastern end of the line, be
tween the ZeAson loop and the Adrin
attic, did Borevlc's forces achieve any
thiLg that resembled success. Ther,
they pushed far enough south of thu
Ptave to reach the Fossalta canal
and Vienna claimed this was crossed
Here the enemy was about ten mile
from Venice, but the resistance of tn
Italians was so determined that n,
anxiety was felt for that clty's safety
Before the week closed the enemy II
that region had been driven back
Most of the pontoon bridges wer
swept away by the swollen Piave.
-M-
In word, the great Austrian oifer
= slve. up to the close of the week, wa
nm absolute failure and was admltte
to be such by captured officers IN
: by some of the Vienna newspapers.
The italian army, never In bette
condition than now, fought with III
utmost gallantry and spirit, aud WI
ably aided by the British and Erenc
contlngents. Mention must be mad
too, of the Americans, for an esc'
drllle of American uvlNtors, trained I
D Italy, went TO the front and gay
notable help In driving the Austria
avlators from the air.
-hQ-
l. Defeat In italy may mean absolut
disaster TO the Austro-lIunguriOn Ell
i plre. for It's Heterogeneous peoples q
r ready are beginning to rebel again
t the rule that has brought them to Il
l. verge of starvation, has claimed Il
J. lives of hundreds OF thousands
s their men, and has given them not
% !ng but false promises Of victory.