RETREAT BECOMES A DEBACLE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 238, 26 June 1918, Page 5

RETREAT BECOMES A DEBACLE

FLEEING AUSTRIANS TRAPPED IN THE FIRE ZONE DREADFUL CARNAGE ON THE PIAVE ..By Telegraph-Prees Association-Copyright. ' ..■•*■•. London, June 24. The Italians' captured forty-five thousand prisoners, and have taken enormous quantities of war 'stores'and guns. Italian cavalry are across the Have, and arc pursuing the fleeing Austrianß. ,The J'aris' Press regards the Austrian defeat as almost a complete rout.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE ITALIAN OFFICIAL REPORT ' "CROWNING RESULTS OF VICTORY." .-,' , ' (Bee.- .Tune 25, 9 p.m.) • London, .Tune 21, 6.20 p.m. An Italian official report states:—"Yesterday gave as the crowning results of our victory. The enemy was pushed up against the bank of the Piave on an. ever-narrowing strip of ground, and unceasingly bombarded by our artillery and aerop'ranes. After maintaining himself desperately on the right bank for eight 'days at the cost of enormous sacrifices, the enemy began on tho night of June 22 a withdrawal to the left bank, crossing the river, under a deadly firo from our artillery. The retreat continued on Sunday, protected by a strong array of machine-guns and covering troops, who, after.a- stubborn resistance, wore driven back. Montello' and all thp right bank of the Piave excepting a small portion at Musile, where the struggle continues, have been recaptured. An extraordinary number of Austrian dead cover the ground, proving the enemy's valour and his great defeat,"—Aus.-N.Z. Gable Assn.-Eouter. AUSTRIAN OFFICIAL REPORT GLOSSES OVER AWKWARD FACTS (Kec. June 25, 1f.15 p.m.) ' ■•' , London, June 24. v .A wireless Austrian official report statgs:'—"The height of the river ami bad weather caused us to IVlonioilo and other positions on the right lank of the Piave. , The order was giv?n four days ago. Our evacuation was unobserved by the enemy."—Aus.-N.Z. Cabb Assn.-Keuter. OLD LINE PRACTICALLY RE-ESTABLISHED ' ITALIANS. ACROSS THE PIAVE. (! ■ ' London, June 24. An Italian semi-official report states:—"The pursuit at certain points has reached tho left (east) bank of the Piave. The Austrinns abandoned considerable quantities of war material. The prisoners have not yet been counted. Continued pressure on Sunday from ftlontello to the sea obliged the enemy to retire in disorder, and he has already been thrown back at almost all points to the left bank of the Piave. The Montello hill has been entirely retaken, and along the Piavo considerable bodies of Italians have, in largo sectors, fought their way to tho old lino on the right bank. Infantry and cavalry detachments have reconquered several positions on the left bank opposite Caposile, and numerous.bombing sqnadron3,slsewhero have also been thrown across the river."—Aus.- • N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeutejp^ij- . " fe''' —; —: , TOTAE : LOSSES ESTIMATED AT 180,000. :■•■■■■■■ ; London, Juno 24. Mr. Ward Price writes:—"The Austrian.? are badly beaten everywhere, and it is estimated that they have lost 180,000 men. They are still attempting to continue local fighting at the crossings of the I'iuve, with a view to preparing for the next stage in the general struggle by linking iip two salients. Fierce intermediate collisions occur in the central swamps <Jf Cava Zuccherina, which protect Venice. All the fighting in this topsy-turvy corner ,of tho held is done along narrow shelves between the dykes, and tlie advantage is with the defenders, who aro-composed of an odd assortment'of sailors, Bcrsaglieri, and coastguards, using amphibious batteries, moved alternately over land and water."—"Tho Times." ENEMY FORCED TO SEND TROOPS FROM THE WEST Washington, June 24. The Germans are hurrying troops from France to Italy.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. (5 EXPLOITING THE RETREAT , ITALIANS QUICK TO SEIZE THEIR OPPORTUNITY. Rome, Juno 24. An Italian war correspondent writes:—"The Austrinns hnvo not only been beaten, but have sufferAl a partial disaster, the extent and importance of which cannot iyet ho estimated.- During the night the Auslnans began to withdraw from tlie Piave, hoping to retreat without attracting attontion; but Italian patrols, penetrating the enemy lines, discovered tho manoeuvre. Tho Italian artillery directed an intense liro on the enemy troops as they were crossing tho river, and at 11 o'clock yesterday morning tho Italian infantry, with magnificent dash, took tho offensive and broke in the Montello front, and tho Austrian retirement became a disorderly retreat. At Nervesa (south-east of Montello), which Iha-Italhns have reoccupiod, they found tho Austrian guns intact, with their ammunition, as well as some Italian' artillery lost at tho beginning of the offensive. Tlie waters of tho Piave are carrying away much material and hundreds of corpses. "Italian aviators used bombs and machine-guns upon the retreating masses which crowded over the bridges."—Router. SEVENTY-FIVE THOUSAND AUSTRIANS INVOLVED IN THE RETREAT INEVITABLE REACTION ON INTERNAL SITUATION. London, June 24. Tne newspapers estimate that soventy-fivo thousand Austrians are involved in ?. disorderly flight. The debaclo is certain to have disastrous effect on the enemy's moral, and most serious internal consequences in Austro-Hungary—Aus.-N.Z, Cable Assnj

HURRIED MEETINGS OF EMPEROR AND STAFF " ENEMY'S OPERATIONS BECOME SPASMODIC. London, June 24, ■ The "Daily Telegraph" Milan correspondent states that the failuro of tho Austrian offensive is now officially recorded, but tho Italian troops were firmly convinced from the outset' that the battle 'would be won. This encouraged them in their counter-attacks, and diminished the importance of the Austrians' minor gains. The Austrian operations have become incoherent, and since Thursday their attacks have been limited to a few straggling efforts. The Emperor arrived on (he scene, not to. record a victory, but to advise what was best to lie done in the disastrous circumstances. He made a rapid inspection of the Alpine sectors, and then proceeded to the linej behind the Piave. He was accompanied by Archduke Frederick, General von Arz (Chief of Staff), and tho Prussian Major-General Cranion, representing Von Hindonburg and Von Ludendorff. A consultation was held by the commanders of each army headquarters, and then a council of war was convened in a villa near tho Piave, where a general cessation of the attacks was decided on. Tho Emperor left via the Tyrol, after visiting his brother Archduke Maximilian, who is nearly deaf through a shell-burst.— Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assu, "TOO SOON YET TO SING THE DOXOLOGY." London, June 24. Mr. Lovat I'raser writeß:—"lt is too soon to sing tho Doxology over Austria's failuro. Some stout German divisions will probably stiffen the enemy's troops, and enable them to attack again somewhere between the Tonale Pass and Lako Garda,"—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. SITUATION FULL OF POSSIBILITIES , BUT' DIAZ UNLIKELY TO TAK E RISKS. (Eec. Juno 25, 8.10 p.m.) London, June 24. The situation in Ilalv abounds in possibilities, but General Diaz is unlikely to take risks, as ho has already scored a great success. It is estimated that the Austrians have twenty divisions in tho general reserve, so it would bo impossible for General Diaz to throw his infantry across the Tiave without full preparation. Tho Austrians thus far have used seventy divisions in the battle, each being ono and a half more numerous than a German division. Prisoners state that eight divisions initiated the storming of the Asiagb Plateau, yet. it was necessary to put in seven divisions of tho reservo tho very first day, as the Austrian losses were tremendous. It is now clear that tho grandioso schemo for crushing Italy in order to enable a final Austro-German advance to bo made in Franco has collapsed. Tho Emperor Karl, realising that the situation was hopeless on the battlefield, hurried back to Vienna to deal with tho civilian disorders. -Aus.-iN.Z. Cablo Assn. EXTENT OF THE DISASTER CANNOT YET BE ESTIMATED (Roc. June 25, 8.10 p.m.) London, June 24. The latest telegrams fros tho front, say the extent, of the' Austrian disaster cannot yet bo calculated, ihe Italians, when advancing,,showed magnificent elan, tho victory exalting Iho courage of the troops. Directly General Diaz learned that the Austrian commander had given tho order to retreat from Montello his counter-attack increased in intensify, 'i he Austrian rctrjat commenced on Sunday. By elevent o'clock on Monday morning tho retreat had become a rout, tho Italian aviators continually bombing the Austrians, who were crowding across the bridges, which one by one wero destroyed, until only a single bridge was left on the Montello sector. Tho total Austrian casualties are at least 180,01)0, and the Italians 80,000.- • , , It is expected that the Austrian casualties will bo immensely increased by (he present fighting. It is already known that the recrossing of the- Piave resulted in most serious losses. Horrible scenes of carnage were witnessed at tho water's edge, where- masses of bewildered Austrians wero awaiting the chance of using tho hastily improvised bridges which tho Italian artillery and aeroplanes were continually destroying. Many were drowned in tho river. The pioneer American aviation corps did particularly brilliant service in attacking tho bridsres intil the passage-ways were final y blocked with dead and wounded Austrians. Tho Italians, after 'a violent bombardment, recaptured Nervisa by a brilliant bayonet charge on Sunday aftornoon.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. AUSTRIANS CAN ONLY REINFORCE' WITH DIFFICULTY ENEMY'S LOSSES DOUBLE THE ITALIANS'. . (Roc. Juno 25, 8.10 p.m.) London, June 24. The latest news states that, the Austrinns havo wholly evacuated Montello and recrossed the river partly by tho one remaining bridge and partly by wading. They wero followed up by tho Italians, who captured one general, hundreds of prisoners, and also recaptured seventy-two of their own guns. The Italians are now on the north bank, with ono bridge at Paily and another at Norviso, wbero they arc making bridgeheads, and noeiing with but little opposition.' Between Montello and Zenson the Italians are on the river along the wholo distance. They are making bridgeheads at font di Piave, and on the wholo of that front' are'pushing over their cavalry. The enemy south of Zenson aro fighting a stubborn rearguard action, in order to co\er the retreat of tho main army, but only two bridgeheads are left fo them, ono at Santa Dona and the other at Gri'solera. The. Kalians have recovered the Caposilo bridgeheads, with prisoners. The situation at present is that (he Italians havo practically restored 110 situation lo whnt if. was before tho Austrian attack. Tho enemy havo very few reserves on the Piave sector. They have also mado few trenches cast of the Piave, besides which their lateral communications aro bad, rendering the passago of reinforcements from the north extremely difhoult. At a moderate estimate, the Austrians' losses aro double .those of tho Italians.—Keuter. GRAVE ANXIETY IN BERLIN VON LUDENDORFF DISPATCHED TO VIENNA. (Ttec. Juno 25, 8.10 p.m.) London, June 24. There is grave anxiety in Berlin regarding Austria. The Kaiser has sent Von Ludendorff on a special mission to Vienna— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn, EFFECT OF THE VICTORY OTT THE WESTERN SITUATION. London, June 24. The "Times" correspondent at Italian Headquarters states:—"The fact that, the Austrian Command is asking nid from Germany implies a recognition of Italy's victory. Tho enemy's losses, including prisoners, are nearly 200,000. It is understood hero that tho result of the offensive will prevent the wholesale transfer of Austrians to Prance with tho view of counterpoising the Americans." -"The Times." GREAT REJOICINGS IN ITALY Romo, Juno 24. Borne is en fete in connection with the great victory on the Piave. The city ■is gay with flags. Other cities celebrated the success by patriotic demonstrations," particularly at Venice, which is now no longer threatened.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. .THE AUSTRIAN INTERNAL CRISISSITUATION ADMITTEDLY NEVER MORE SERIOUS London, June 24. The "Nieue Preie Prcsse" admits that the internal condition of Austria was never more serious, and the outlook is equally black in Hungary. A general strike prevails in Budapest. All the munition factories and railway engine works aro closed, but the tramways aro still running. Cavalry ere patrolling the streets, and dispersing demonstrators.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assu. "IN A STATE OF COMPLETE CHAOS" London, Juno 24. Although Dr. von Soldier's resignation is constantly canvassed, it has been the subject of many false reports and rumours, but there seems little doubt that the. whole Cabinet is now (.ut of office. The "Daily Telegraph" says that, undoubtedly, Ihe defeat on (he Piave helped to precipitate the crisis, .but it, points out that the situation was already serious. The internal condition of AuslriaJluugary is now in u state of complete chaos. The* Exchange Telegraph Agency's correspondent ut Zurich says:—"The Socialists are masters of tut situation, and will not: be content with a reconstruction under Dr. von Seidler, but will demand a new Parliament. The Poles are equally firm. Their appointment of a now leader (Dr. Tertil) amounted to open defiance of the Government, and probably largely influenced Von Soidler's decision, which tho news from tlie Piave clinched."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn, THE AUSTRIAN PREMIER'S RESIGNATION EMPEROR ORDERS, HIM TO CARRY ON. (Pice. June 25, 11.15 j).m.) Amsterdam, June 24. Tho Emperor Karl, in an autograph letter to Dr. Seidler, bus refused to accept the latter's resignation for tho present, and has instructed him to continue the direction of affairs— Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. REPORTED RESIGNATION OF HUNGARIAN PREMIER. Amsterdam, June 24. It is understood that Dr. Alexander Wekerlo (Premier of Hungary) has resigned, and that Count Tisza will probably succeed him.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.