The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-06-17
len NEMY IS BEING
PUSHED BACK OR
HELD FIRMLY ALL
ALONG The Line
Sixty Divisions Were Used
By Austrians in Vain
Attacks
BATTLE RACES
ON LONG LINE
Vicious Fighting From
Lake Garda to the Adri-
attic Sea
PIAVE CROSSED
AT TWO POINTS
But Italians Are Driving
the Invaders Back To-
ward River
PAVE CROSSED
AT TWO POINTS
(By Associated Press.1

Rome. Sunday. June 16.-The sit
uation on the Italian front in its en-
tirety seems very reassuring, says a
semi official note. issued tonight. It
is added that the great battle which
broke out Saturday has but begun.
Although having strength of so di-
visions. the enemy attacking forces
have not succeeded in passing the
Italian advanced area at any point.
Austrian pressure continues very
strong along the Sentire front. The
enemy is concentrating most power
full and fierce attacks astride the
BreElta and across the Piave and it
is still possible for the fighting line
to flow backwards or forwards.
The enemy based his enterprise on
various factors to assure him a vic-
tory, says the semi official note.
There was relatively brief but e1-
tremely violent artillery preparation
with a large number of gas shells.
Then. under cover of an artificial fog
from bombs and smoke apparatus,
the enemy in open formation advance
ed to the attack. The enemy placed
such faith in this preparation that
he fixed his detectives for the first
days fighting more than Is kilome-
tres in advance and planned to de-
scend from the mountain area and
also reach the city of Treviso, from
the Piave river.
Plan Frustrated.
The enemy's bonn mbardment was
frustrated by the formidable fire from
the Italian artillery. which destroy
ed lines and shelters and made full
hits on massed troops. as well as
drenched his battle empIacements
with gas. When the enemy infantry
advanced into the front line zones,
they found that resistance had been
prepared by the Italian machine
guns and had to meet counter at
tack from the Italian supporting
troops. This resulted in the loss OF
great part of the advantage he had
gained and he left prisoners and ma
chine guns in the hands Of the Ital-
ians.
This is what happened to the Aus
trians along the whole front of att
tack. North of Cekuna an advance
group Of British. which had been
passed and surrounded by the AUG
trians. resisted until a counter at
tack freed them and at the same
time captured 200 prisoners. South
west Of Neunar the French recap
tured a strong point and took 1856
yprisoners. From Moschan to Monte
Fenera the fourth army completely
regained it's advanced positions on
Asolone. Pertica. Solarolo and Perts
di Salton. where the enemy had made
slight progress. A storming detacll-
ment retooS Col Meschin, with ESQ
prisoners. in ten minutes. The prise
oners included 25 officers. AItogeth-
er between the Brenta and the Piaye.
$50 prisoners were captured. South
of Montello. the enemy crossed the
VrrFfk, 0rV1EiHnra h1a PCrrns
is being gradually pushed toward the
river by the Italian reactions. On
the lower Piave the enemy has reach
ed the river between Candelu and
Zenson loop in the region of Dona ri
Piave. The enemy was Immediately
checked and driven back by q col1n-
ter attack to the bank of the river.
One thousand. five hundred and for~
ty-flve prisoners. including one colo
mel. two majors and forty-two other
officers. were made prisoner by the
third army.
Altogether 5000 prisoners. includ.
ing SO officers, were taken by the
Italians and their allies I'm the frgt
day of the struggle. which was to
have been q great success for the
Austrians. but which resulted In a
dismal failure.
Piave Front Restored.
with the italian Army, Sunday.
June l6.-Austrian troops which
crossed the Piave river have been
driven back. The fighting along the
river is most intense.
Nowhere else along the front of
attack has the struggle been so ee-
we're as on the Piave line.
One OF the most brilliant of the
Italian actions was the defense Of
the Monte Moschan salient. protest.
Ing the important Brenta position
where the Austrians suffered heavy
losses. Many OF their machine guns
were captured.
The prisoners are ragged and ills
fed. Many OF them are underaized
youths.
The feeling of the Italians is
buoyant.
AZ italian army headquarters sat-
CONTINUED on page s.