Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 138, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 June 1918 — WAR SUMMARY. [ARTICLE]

WAR SUMMARY.

The fifth day of the Austrian offensive finds the Italian line on the lower Piave bending slightly, while the northern or mountain sectors, where the Italians are reinforced. by British and French, are holding firmly. Critics insist that the northern sectors are the ones most vital to the allies and that whatever gains the foe may make on the Venetian marshes are only local and temporary in character.. Others, however, believe there are elements of danger in the southern advance, slight though it has been. Rome admits that the enemy gained on both wings of the central Piave line, in the north on the height called Montello, and in the south around the west of Capo Site. The former is in the direction of the railway town of Treviso (a pivot in the vital lines of communication), the latter toward Venice. In the north the invaders have progressed some four miles and have wrested from the Italians three-fourths of the high ground separating them from the plain; in the south their advance has been between three and four miles—in both areas the fighting is. on the west bank of the Piave, which the Austrians have crossed at 14 points over bridges which are under constant attack of British and Italian bombing planes and artillery. The whole strength of the Austrian machine is now being concentrated against (he Italian river line which they are trying to turn by getting into its rear sufficiently far to the westward to endanger the main avenue of retreat, the Oderza Treviso-Verona railroad. The Austrians claim to have taken a total of 30,000 prisoners, most of them on the lower Piave. t Rome announces that additional capture of 1,550 Austrians on the Piave front and 300 more on the Asiago plateau. In . the mountains the invader has been completely stopped. More ground . has been .regained by . the Italians and the French and British allies and more prisoners and guns have been captured. Rome, while semiofficially admitting the position is still serious, says the Italian high command has the situation well in hand and. the Austrians are meeting ever increasing resistance. Gen. Diaz, it is emphasized, has sufficient reserves ■ at his disposal. On the west front there are signs of renewed activity. In England the general view is that the Germans will tackle the British front next and it is based chiefly on the knowledge that Prince Rupprecht has had. ample time to regroup add repair his battered man power resources and that only inconsiderable forces were borrowed from bim by the Crown Prince in the recent Paris drive. It is announced on the American front at Chateau Thierry that the Germans are using 14 inch Austrian skoda guns.