The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-06-21
Italian Troops ReOccupy I'm
portant Positions.
Make Gains All Along the
Battle Front.
SERIOUS RIOTS HARASS HUNS
Heavy Rains May Cause Fur
ther Rise on Piaye.
Italians Trying To Capture
Trapped Enemy Troops.
(By the Associated Press.)

(By the Associated Press.)
Austrias offensive against Italy ap-
parently has resolved itself into a de-
fensive movement both in the noun
tains and along the Piave. While fac
ing allied counter attacks on the fight
ing front the Austrian government is
being harassed in Vienna and else
where by popular outbreaks caused
by food conditions.
Italians Gain Ground.
Spurred on by their successful re-
sistance, Italian troops are making re-
peated attacks against the enemy po-
sitions west of the Piave and have
gained some ground. In the noun
tains around Asiago, Franco-Italian
sitions Wednesday the bag of Aus
trian prisoners aggregated nearly g.
600, bringing the total captures to
1900.
Vienna Admits Defensive.
Vienna, in it's official statement ad-
mits that it's troops are on the de-
fensive and is content to report that
all italian attacks. especially along the
Piave, have been repulsed. The fight
ing is now in its seventh day and the
Austrians west of the Piave probably
are in a more preearious position than
at any time since last Saturday.
Around Montello on the northern
end of the Piave line, the Austrians
have been driven back slightly. Their
efforts to advance near Zenson near
the center of the line lave been
checked with severe losses. At San
Dona di Piave and on the Fossetta
canal the Italians have driven the en-
emy from ground gained earlier in the
week.
River May Go Higher.
Heavy rains are reported in the
mountains and these may add to the
torrent in the Piave which already has
washed away many bridges. With the
flooded river behind the enemy the
Italian counter attacks are gaining in
strength in an effort to wipe out or
capture the troops which have crossed
the Piave and have been unable to
advance into the Venetian plain.
100000 Out on Strike.
Riots are reported in suburbs of
Vienna and 100000 workers in impor-
tant war manufactures are on strike
there. The situation apparently is
growing beyond control of the civil
authorities, and martial law in the
Austrian capital is not unlikely. The
workmen continue to demand more
bread and the agitation is spreading
are to the effect that the present
trouble is the most serious the Aus
trian government has faced, and is
causing grave apprehension thruout
the country. Germany appears un-
able to help because it is faced with a
serious food situation itself.
All Quiet in France.
Subnorma1 fighting activity con-
tinues generally on the front in France
and Belgium. The American troops
appear to be the only ones who are
busy, and the actions which have oc-
cupied them have not been extensive.
Americans Attack.
West of Montdidier American troops
in a short and desperate engagement
, have cleaned out German trenches and
| machine gun nests at Cantigny. Most
/ of the Germans who remained to fight
/ the Americans were killed, while a
number were made prisoner. Berlin
| officially claims that German troops
| at Seicheprey. The falsity of this re-
/ port is shown by a dispatch from the
! American front which says that the
; penetration was only an attempted
/ raid by sixty Germans.
| French Transport Down.
Announcement is made of the tor
pedoing in the Mediterranean of the
! French transport SAINT Anna with the
| loss of 63S lives. The vessel was sunk
| on May 10, and 1,512 of the soldiers
and native workmen on board were
: