Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-07-02
ROME WAR OFFICE
REPORTS CAPTURE
OF MOUNT ECHELE
French Wrest Further Posi-
tions North of Clignon
River.
RENEWAL OF GERMAN DRIVE i.5 :.s.
is EXPECTED MOMENTARILY
Allied Aviators Do Great Execu-
ton Among Enemy zss
Planes.
ITALIANS HAMMER AUsTRIANsl
Berlin Officially Claims Taking Of
10000 Soldiers of Allies Since ssB
March Fl. go

undated War Lead BY Associated Prcss.l
success has apparently crowned tho
offensive of the Italians in the mcun-
tains north OF the Venetian plains.s7
Launched OH Saturday, the attack on
the Austrian lines has gained rugged
heights where the enemy was strong
ly intrenchcd. and the lighting is stlIlF
going on. Vienna admits IL retirement
to prepared POSITIONS which is tha
expression used IN official statcmenta4s
to mean that any enemy blow has
gained important ground 40
After three days of struggling In
the mountains. the Italians arc still
hammering hard at the most powerful
and threatening positions of the en-
cmy. They have not only gained
ground. but have held 1t against des-
perate counterattacks by the AuStro-
hungarian forces. which were mowna
down by artillery fire and completely
checked by the Italian infantry.
Detailed maps OF the area In which
the lighting is going OH do not show
distinctly some OF the places m>ntton.4
cd in the official statements. The Vic.
ma admission that the new Austrian
line runs through "Stemple Wood" Is
therefore. without Significance. but us
the positions held by the Austrians be:
fore the Italian attack began weres
above the forest line. 1t would seem
that the enemy has been ousted from
the higher ground he formerly held.
and thus placed at disadvantage In
the fighting TO come.
Tho Italian attack was seemingly
planned with care. On the right flank
of General Diaz's forces is the Brenta
River. which affords some protection
against a flank ing attack. On the left
there are two deep valleys which also
lend themselves admirably to the tao.
ties adopted by the Italians.
nEnLIN REPORTS CAPTURE
ss&s OF MANY PRISONERS
An official statement issued at Bcr-
lin claims that l91.i5i unwounded al
lied prisoners have been captured since
March 81. OF these. 9i.93? were Brit
ish. S9.o9e were French. and the re- \
mainder were Portuguese. Rolgians
and Americans. Six allied generals
and G.200 officers said to have been y
taken by the Germans. -
In France there have been local at
tacks at various points north of the
Marnc on the west side of the salient
driven into the allied lines by the Ger
man offensive that was begun May y. (
The French have advanced their lines
noFtn OF the CiSiion RIVER once lioIS +,
and have passed tho railroad line rum
ming from CheZy to Ninly. t.
Further north the French have taken 3
strong positions along the ridges TO
the east OF Villers- -Cotterets forest. S.
NO MARKED ACTIVITY
on AMERICAN 'FRONT.'
There have been no unusual engage
nents along the British or American 5
fronts. but there is n tenseness along
the whole line from Ypres to Rhei,ns
and even to the east. along the French
and American sectors, and there is expec-
tation that the breaking OF the storm
may come at any time. In front Of
Amens this fleeing is especially marked.
There the Germans began great bonn.
bardment but. SO far reported, have
not sent their infantry into action.
There was intense activity in aerial
fighting on Sunday. The French
brought down or put out OF action
twenty-one German airpianes. while
the British shot down twenty-five and
drove ten down out OF control.