The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1918-07-04
HUN PINCERS FAIL
TO CLOSE IN ITALY
Austrian Attacks Everywhere
Have Been Checked, ItaI-
ian Headquarters Report.
HARD FIGHTING ALONG PAVE
Fierce Battle RACES From Mountains
to Adriatie-No Infantry Opera
tions on West Front.

Washington, June 19.-The Aus
trian pincers are not closing upon
Italy with the precision of last Oc-
tober, when they forced back the
Italian armies on wide fronts. In fact,
they do not seem to be closing at all
The upper jaw in the Venetian
Alps is stalled under the resistance
Of the British, French and Italian
forces, and the neither one seems to
lack the force necessary to bring it
across the PiaYe River and push back
the Italian troops which are ciogging
its path.
In the Alps the Austrians have been
unable further to advance their lines
since their initial onslaught last week
Everywhere from the Asiago Plateau
sector eastward to the Piave River all
their attacks have quickly been re-
pulsed by the Allied troops who, in
their turn, have delivered counter at
tacks, regained lost terrain, inflicted
heavy casualties on the enemy and
taken considerable number of
prisoners.
Fierce Fighting on PiaVe.
All along the Piave river, from the
mountain passes through which the
torrent wends its way southwark on
its race to the Adriatic Sea, fierce
fighting is going on especially on the
MontellO Plateau; in the region Of the
famous Zenson loop and further south
from Fossaita to the marsh country
around Capo Sile, some twenty miles
east Of Venice.
hn TTn1T IF
that the enemy everywhere is being
held along the Piave. On the crucial
sector of the MontelIo Plateau, which
bars the way from the northeast to
the Venetian plains, the Italians have
strengthened their positions on the
northern edge Of the plateau and re-
pulsed two enemy attacks to advance
on the northern border. To the south,
near Maserada and Candolu, attempts
by the Austrians to effect new cross
ings of the Piave were frustrated
with heavy losses.
Little Action in France
The infantry operations on the bat
tie front in France continue virtually
at standstill, but the allied and Ger
man guns are roaring on various sec
lOA0 anu IL ID AlOl AAAPA OOdOAC ALlaL
fighting on a large scale will be re-
sumed somewhere shortly.
Italians Halt Austrians.
Washington, June 1S.-Not alone
are the Italians and their British and
French comrades in arms holding in
check the Austrian offensive along
the greater part OF the hundred mile
battle front from the region southeast
of Trent to the Adriatic sea, but they
themselves have turned aggressoTs on
some of the more important sectors.
especially in the mountain regions.
Counter attacks in the hill coun-
try in the north at several points have
resulted in the occupation by the al
lies of ground won from them in the
initial onslaught and the rectification
Of their lines, while a stiffening Of
the front the Piave river has made
impossible, for the time being at least,
further fording of the stream by the
enemy.
Bringing Great Pressure.
Hard fighting still is in progress,
however, with the Austrians bringing
the strongest kind of pressure TO bear
against the allied armies on both
northern and eastern parts OF the
battlefield in an endeavor to reach
the lines and gain access in force to
the plains.
No Heavy Fighting in France.
There still has been no return to
the heavy fighting of last week on the
battle fronts in France, although sew
eraI engagements Of greater import
than the usual raiding operations have
taken place.
Counter attacks against the French
in their newly won position between
the Disc and the Aisne delivered by
the Germans Monday were FepuIsed.
The French captured $40 prisoners
and twenty-five machine guns in the
fighting.
Northwest Of Chateau Thierry, es-
pecially in the Belleau wood, the Ger
mans are treating the Americans to
large waves of gas and shells. Their
efforts have gone unrewaTded, how
ever, so far as breaking the line is
concerned.
American patrols east Of Chateau
Thierry again have crossed the Marne,
attacked the Germans and returned
to their base