New-York tribune., 1918-06-21
Italians on Piaue
Win Mastery of Air
From the Austrians
tBu The Associated Prcss)

tBH The Associated FfcSS}
ITALIAN ARMY HEADQUARTERS,
June liberalization that the Austrian
offensive has failed is spurrlng the
Italian troops to a desperate resistance
along the Piave. Heavy lighting con
tinued to-day around the Monteile
Plateau on the north and near SaL
Dona di Piave on the south.
On Montello, which is hiliy and
wooded. the opposing forces frequently
stumbled upon each other unexpectedly.
Such meetings always result IN sharp
encounters.
The spirit of the Italian troops is at
high pitch despite wounds. loss OF sleep
and constant movements made neces-
sary by The conditions of the terrain
at several points.
The Italians have won complete con
troll Of the air along the Piarc line.
where the most determined fighting of
the present Austrian offensive is III
uroeress. This afternoon not q single
Austrian machine was aloft on TINS
front
In general the situation of the Aus
trians along the Piavc appears tar
from satisfactory to them. Prisoners
taken by the Italians all declare the
Austrian army has little food. Some
of the prisoners have not eaten for
iOIIy-clSAI HVNhS'
Austrian Bridges Destroyed
The River Piave, overfowing its
banks. has destroyed several pontoon
bridges constructed by the Austlans
al Intcstadura and also at San Dona
di lPiave. This has incresed the diff
Guilty of the Austrsns in their rear
communications, affecting the trans
Lortation Of artillery, ammunition, food
and fresh troops.
1t is stated that the Austrians, fight
ing south Of the Piave River. continue
to implore help and also that two OF
their divisions have been greatly re-
6uced by losses.
That Austria's present drive against
italy is positively "a hunger often-
sive," has been proved by new orders
and addresses found upon prisoners.
These were signed by officers ranging
from Field Marshal Conrad Won Hoet-
zendcrf down to regimental command
ers One which was issued by the
commander of the famous regiment
bearing the name OF Archduke Charles
says:
"Soldiers. remember the spoils we
got last fall from the italians: the
sheep, COWS, steers, warehouses full of
good clothes and grocery stores full OF
wines, canned goods, -four and sugar.
=
white bread you may win for all.
The spondent has visited groups
OF hundreds of prisoners, ali of whom
are thin and weak. They said they
had had little food for the last month
and spoke with horror Of the winter
months they had passed. A sample Of
their black bread showed that it was
made of rye straw and potatoes.
Soldiers Buy Own Shoes
Many OF The prisoners have strong
weil-spiked shoes, but these they claim
they made themselves or bought
Their clothes. however, are falling
apart, having been patched frequently.
Most of them have mere rags for
shirts. The majority Of the prisoners
have money, but it is either in paper
bills or iron coin. The most of them
wear medals for valor some of them
having two or three Of them, but these
decorations are of base metal and none
are of gold or silver One is stamped
with likeness of Empress Zita and
cncircled with laurel wreathes and is
made of a zinc composition.
Phe prisoners part readily with th&se
medals for few pennies of Italian
money, saying they have 10 pride in
young and light-haired and generally
have bad teeth.
stories OF captures effected by per-
suading the Austrians that they will
be well fed. One Italian officer. who
had been wounded and picked up by
group of Austrians who intended to
MAKE MIN prisoner, explained how
foolish they were. He said: "Come
WITH me and you will get meat, wine
and real bread" Thercupon the whole
IN <kr at
Offensive Failure
It is said, also. that at the begin.
ming OF tho offensive the Austrians
IN the front line each received three
rations OF meat. one for each dav of the
attack until they reached the Italiar
stores; They were so hungry, however
that they ate ell of them the first day
In trip by the correspondent along
the entire front there was found ampls
evidence that the Austrian offensive
had failed.
Except for their crossings of the
plave the Austrians got rothing fo,
their attacks upon the Italians or the
Angio-Frcneh forces aside from front
line observation posts, which alread,
nave been retaken or seem in the wa,
of being reclaimed
The Austrian artillery marksmanshir
was extremely poor during the attack
The enemy's fire was frequently slack
and often virtually useless. because O,
the cutting of the Austrian telephone
communications by the Italian gunfire
The exaetitudc of the Italian artil.
lery rejoinder not only had the cffec,
of spelling the effectiveness Of the Aus
trian aim, but was responsible for the
heavy losses which are known to have
been inflicted upon the attacking
forces.
During his tour the correspondent
talked with an Austrian prisoner, q
member Of manufacturing firm with
Offices in all the great world centres
including New York.
Fought for Forty Months
Il have been fighting for forty
months" said this man, Hfrst on the
Russian front. where | had an easy
tins, and now here, where the Italians
are making things too hot for .us
There IL no food for the people OF
Austria and next TO none for the army
! had but few pieces Of bread and
potatoes before the fight, and since the
Fight began have had none.
The army cannot last more than a
couple Of months at the hsxt. There