The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-06-21

Official Announcement Says
Austrians Are Defeated IN
Drive on Northeastern Sec
ton of Plateau.
U. S. AvIAT0Rs ACTIVE
(By Associated Press)

Stout Italian resistance has again
stopped the Austrians in their effort
to extend their front on the Montello
plateau. the keystone Of the Italian
defense on the Piave river.
Official announcement made at
Rome that the Austrians were defeat
ed in drive yesterday on the north
eastern section of the plateau and
that only on the south were they able
to make any progress whatever. The
enemy was able to cross the Monte
Belluna-Susegana railway at several
points near Nervesa station, where
even at this point was promptly stop
ped.
Nervesa is a village on the west
bank of the Piave on the extreme
southeastern point of the Montello
plateau. The railroad mentioned is
not shown on military maps and prob
ably has been built quite recently. On
the north and west the plateau slopes
steeply to wooded height, while on the
south are lowlands similar to those
further on, where the Austrians have
been checked by the Italian defense
AS the Austrians have for some days
held positions near Nervesa the net
result of their last attack is apparent
ly Insignificant
American Flyers Active.
American aviators are now actively
engaged on the Piave front. 1t was
announced early in the week that they
were on their way to the battle area
and 1t is reported that they have feat
ured their arrival by participating in
a bombing expedition against the
bridges the Austrians have flung
acros the river They were successful
in damaging a bridge and their work
satisfied the commander of the Italian
aerial squadron under whom they are
lighting.
Raiding operations are reported on
the British fronts while the French
have improved their positions on the
front to the southwest of Scissors.
Austria's offensive against Italy ap-
parently has resolved itself into a de-
fensive movement both in the mouu-
tains and along the Piave. While fac
ing allied counter-atacks on the fight.
ing front, the Austrian government is
being harassed in Vienna and else
where by popular outbreaks caused
by food conditions.
Spurred on by their successful re-
sistance. Italian troops are making
repeated attacks against the enemy
positions west of the Piave and have
gained some ground. In the noun.
tains around Asiago, Franco-Italian
troops have re-occupied important
positions. Wednesday, the bag OF
Austrian prisoners aggregated nearly
1000, bringing the total captures to
11.OOO
Vienna, in its official statement, ad-
mlts that its 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 more precarious 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, have been
checked with severe losses. At San
Dona di Piave and on the Fossetta
canal the Italians have driven the
enemy from ground gained earlier in
the week.
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 gain
ing in strength in an effort to wipe
out or capture the troops which have
crossed the Piave and have been un-
able to advance into the Venetian
plain.
Americans Clear Trenches.
Sub-normal fighting activity contin-
ues 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 occu-
pied them have not been extensive.
West of Montdidier, American
troops in short and desperate en-
gagement, 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 pri-
oner
Berlin officially claims that German
troops have penetrated the American
trenches at Seicheprey. The falsity
of this report is shown by dispatch
from the American front which says
that the penetration was only an
attempted raid by 60 Germans.
Announcement is made OF the tor
pedoing in the Mediterranean of the
French transport Saint Ann 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
saved.