Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-07-01
BAG 8O9 PRISONERS
. AND DEFEND HEIGHT
AGAINST AUSTR|ANS.
Taking of Offensive by GEN
eral Diaz Comes as Com
plete Surprise.
HIS SOLDIERS CAPTURE
HILL OF SASSO ROSSQ
Two Local Actions Forestail Al
tack by Enemy on Noun
tain Front.
MAY IMPAIR COMMUNICATIONS
French Continue to Mako Small
Gains on North Side
Of Marine.
MAY IMPAIR COMMUNICATIONS
French Continue to Mako Small
Gains on North Side
Of Marine.

Attacking the Austro- Hungarian lines
On the As!ago plateau. the italians have
wrested Monte di Valbella from the;
enemy. captured 500 prisoners and held
their new positions against repeated
counterattacks
This sudden turn from the defensive
TO the offensive came as surprise to
the laymen Of the allied world for II 3
had been believed that General Diaz,S
Tie Italian commander would be con-
tent to hold his lines In the mountains (
against a great. new offensive intended
by tho Austrians and Germans to take
away the sting OF the defeat OF the
Austrians along the piavc two weeks
ago.
Nor was the Italian attack limited
to the position on Monte di Valbella.2
Further east. on the left bank OF thex
Erenta River. they captured the helgh .
OF Sasso Rosso. Just north OF the vii1V
lage OF ValstaGna.
These two actions. while local In
character. may explain the failure Of
tho Italians to pursue the Austriansa
across the Piave when on June % the
enemy fed from the west bank with a.
haste at-indicated something of de-
moralzat!on.
MOUNTAIN FRONT KEY
TO ITALIAN SITUATION
General Diaz probably has expected
the heaviest enemy blow to be-
launched along the mountain front,
which is the key to the whole Italians|
situation. In attacking there hinlseifC
he has carried the fight to the foeIA
gained strong positions at vital points
and broken up some OF the prepafa-
sive In that quarter. fssy
1t is hardly to be believed that Gem,
eral Dlaz plans to go further than
local detectives. but II he should make
much progress on the Asiago plateau
he could be able to takc under hts;
artillery frc the railroad paralIelinEI
the battle line and running along the
brenta River east OF Lake Caldonazzo.4
This line is the connecting link be.s
tween the Piave and Adige fronts, and
II the Italians could dominate it. the
austrian system OF communications;
would he seriously impaired
FRENCH OCCUPY RIDGE n
AND CAPTURE PRIsoNERSi
The French are continuing their
"nihbilns" tactics along the limo runs
rins northward from the Marne. FRI
day they swept the Germans back from
the cnvirons OF Villers-Cotterets for
est. southwest OF Soissons. and held;
the ground they had taken Saturday
night they suddenly attacked the G.r.a
man lines little. to the north OF ths;
Clisnan River and just to the left az,
the positions held by the American
troops In that sector. long ridsel
between the villages of Mosloy anal
assy-en- -Valois was occupied and 2sS.
prisoners were taken. Further northyi
near St Pierre Aigle. the French posf.f
tons were improved by local attack
The British have repulsed an ene,,s4S3
assault in the neighborhood of MerrjS.
near where the Germans were drfvrnx
back east of Nieppe forest on Fridayl
The British official statement mention
ed heavy German artillery fire 49,
Amiens near Albert. north Of
Scarpe near Arras and in the rerioI
or rcstubert. northwest OF Lens.
The official statement issued at Eer.y
lin says that artillery firing has in!
creased between the User and Ith.
Marne. which includes virtually all OIL
the active battle zone.
There is report that Alexis Roman-sl
Off. the son of the former Eussia.,,
Emperor. is alive, Notwithstanding d.
patches telling OF his recent death.