THE BATTLE ON THE PIAVE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 234, 21 June 1918, Page 5

THE BATTLE ON THE PIAVE

NATURE'S AID TO THE DEFENDERS AUSTRIANS TRAPPED BY THE FLOOD WATERS By Tele|jraph--Preß3 Aosociation-Copyright. London, Juno ID. , An Italian official message states: "The violenoo of the battlo bus somewlnt decreased on the mountain front, but it is increasing along the Piave. The enemy's renewed attempts opposite Maserada mid Caodclu to establish new openings on the right bank of liio river on Monday were sanguinarily repulsed. The strugglo raged unceasingly f rom Fossalta to Caposile; formidable attacks alternated with counter-attacks, and the beginnings of vigorous advances wore crushed or arrested. Tho struggb was only suspended lato at night. The Italians were strenuously tried, but the enemy was unable to increase the short depth of tho strip of ground in which ike lighting has been raging for four days. AVo ioolc 1550 prisoners. Our airmen tirelessly participated in tho battle effectively, notwithstanding heavy rain. On the northern edge of tho Montello Mill, wo strengthened our'occupation on the river as far as Casaserena. , The ene.ny from the north-eastern salient of tho nount delivered two attacks. The first was arrested to tho eastward of a lino north-east of Giavera; tho second was withlwld immediately southward of t'b.3 San Mawo-San Andrea railway. Partial attacks in tho.Mount Grappa region were repulsed, and the enemy thrusts at the end of the Brenta Valley and eastward of tho Frenzela Valley were promptly arrested. On the eastern margin of tho Asiago Platoau we wrested liazcapizzo and tho heights south-east of Sasso from the enemy, taking 300 prisoners. AVo and tho French, strongly attacking, gained ground on tho spur of Costalunga, taking prisoners. The British, farther west, took prisoner numerous others. The bearing of the Italian and Allied troops was admirable. "From tho St. Eivio Pass to the sea every man understood that tho enemy absolutely must not pass. Every defender on Mount Grappa felt that each yard of tho historic mountain was sacred to his native land. To our own and tho Allied artillery may be assigned tho particular merit of breaking tho first impetus of tho onslaught."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. NO CHANGE ON THE BRITISH FRONT ■■'..'■ . London. June 19. A British-Italian official message states: "The situation on the British front is unchanged. The British and Italian artillery by their great initiative caused the heaviest losses. Tho air force, owing to mist, was unable to operate during practically tho whole battle, but gallantly delayed tho enemy's advance across the Piave. The total prisoners exceeds one thousand, and the material captured includes live mountain guus, 72 machine-guns, and 20 flame-throwers." An Italian semi-official message states: "The British infantry resisted magnificently on the front lines, which were destroyed by tho bombardment, even after the enemy had passed, and counter-attacked with such impetus that they reestablished the situation. Tho French and British contingents unstained an attack by fifteen.divisions. Captured enemy reports show that tho Austrian* wero ordered to advance nt all costs, because tho Italians would surrender in masses. One report expresses surprise nt tho splendid resistance. Another report says: "The situation is desper&fo. Units are mixed up. Ammunition is wanting, and the attack is enormously difficult.' Captured enemy officers ara unanimous in declaring that the offensive failed."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. AUSTRIAN OFFICIAL REPORT London, June 1!). An Austrian official message (states: "General von Wunn has.pained ground at numerous i»ints in Venetia. His southern wing, fighting stubbirnly, "reached tho Fossetta Canal. The Archduke. Joseph, consolidated his successes in the Montello "Ogion, and counter-attacks broke down. We captured in three days in this region 73 guns, including many of heavy calibre.- Tho enemy's counter-attacks on both sides of tho Brenta wero constantly but vainly renewed. British attacks southward of tho Asiago were equally unsuccessful. Our prisoners now number 30,000, and the captured guns 120."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. TRAPPED BY THE FLOODS AUSTRIANS IN SERIOUS PLIGHT. (Rec. Juno 20, 8 p.m.) London. Juno 19. A wireless message from Borne states that tho position of thn Austriuns who crossed the Piavo is most precarious. They are surrounded bv tho Italians and <i swollen river, and are being; continuously bombarded by ou i- artillery. Tho .aeroplanes ava destroying all tho bridges —United Service, SIGNS OF DEMORALISATION. liXec. June 20, 9.20 p.m.) Rome, June 10. Tho "Mossaggero" states that the heavy rains of the last few davs have rendered the Piavn practically impossible to wass. 'J'ho Austriuns find that it is al'nast impossible to transmit food and other supplies. Tho Austrians' plight is all tho more serious l>ecau6c they have n-it brought up their food reserves. Tho enemy is showing many signs of demoralisation.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE ENEMY'S ORIGINAL PLAN A MISCALCULATION IN THE WEST. Utce. June 20, lfl.lO p.m.) London, Juno 19. Tho "Daily Mail" Milan correspondent states—"The original Austrians' plan was to attack in co-operation with Von Below's and Von Bothmer's armies from tho West front. Tho Allies' splendid resistance on tho West front kept the Germans so busy that they were only able to spare a few units for Italy. One-third of tho attacking troops at Vuldoasa and Tomba remained on the ground. The Asiago Plateau and tho ravine at Grappa were well filled with heaps of the dead. The carnage on the Piave was horrifying, the current carrying thousands of corpses. Austrian officers taken prisoner admit that their losses at the crossing wero appalling."—United Service. FOUL PLAY. ''Utec. June 20, 11.20 p.m.) London, June 19. Mr. Ward Price slates:-' The Austrians arc not fighting cleanly. They aro freely using explosive bullets, which mako the most ghastly wounds, and disguising soldiers in Italian uniforms and peasants' clothes. Numerous spies disguised as peasants have been shot."—The Times." 9000 PRISONERS CAPTURED London, June 1!). Tho Italians have captured a total of 9000 prisoners t-nd many guns.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. OPINION IN AMERICA AUSTRIAN OFFENSIVE "A COMPLETE FAILURE." Washington, June 19. Military officials state that a fortnight will show whether the Austrian offensive is a complete failure. It is expected that within that period Germany will strike a desperato blow on the West front, probably in the northern 6ector.—Aus,N.Z. Cable Assn.

OPTIMISTIC COMMENT IN THE NEWSPAPERS. New York, Juno 19. The newspapers are most optimistic in tone over tho Italian situation, believing Hint (he Allies' line will withstand tho attack. Tho Now York "Times," in an editorial, alludes to tho offensive as 'a stationary drive." "The offensive," it. says, "l 1!l s not. achieved even tho initial success that wo expected. Both sides are new contending on even'terms. It is tho most cheering news we have heard for a. long t\me." Mr. Frank Simonds, in tho Now York 'Tribune, writes: "Measured by results, tho three, days of the Austrian attack seems to be a complete failure. Everything depends on whether tho Allies can hold tho important mountainous region, where tho line is, so far, intuct. The fact that seventy-two divisions of Austrians were engaged disposes of the possibility of largo Austrian forces participating in the warfare on tho West front."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.