AUSTRIA'S DEFEAT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 251, 11 July 1918, Page 5

AUSTRIA'S DEFEAT

J EMBITTERED AND HUMILIATED ENEMY HOPED TO TAKE 5 VENICE London, ,1 uly 9. Mr. .Ward I'rico write: "Tho'AusIrians are bitter and reluctant to loso their half-droivned positions an tho l'iavn delta, (or which they had made tcrriblo sacrifices last winter. Two Italian officers, who were recently taken . prisoner, lj\it escaped, describe how an I exalted Austrian admiral, with a largo j staff, assembled at Caorle, to" miles bohind tho front, waiting to assume, command of the naval Base at Venico. Tho Austrian's rotroated from tiio delta only whim they were liable to complete extermination. Added io tho increasing fireof tho Italian artillery and machineguns, starvation was also imminent owing to the.cutting-off of supplies. The retirement under heavy fire disorganised the remnants' of four shattered divisions, who left heaps of corpses everywhere sinking in the greedy mud of the doltas. Tho dead include many of tho crack Vienna Infantry Corps, known , as the Company of Death, which wears as its emblem a skull and croseboncs, and is noted for its special daring. Tho Austrian and German Governments havo ordered tho censorship to rigidly suppress news of tho clean sweep of tho ?onerals involved in tho recent defeat, t is felt that the disclosure of the incompetence of tho military leaders will dangerously increase discontent in Hungary and among the disappointed Austrians.—"Tho Times." AUSTRIA DECLINES THE GERMAN GENERALISSIMO (Rcc. July 11, 0.50 a.m.) Rome, July 9. Telegrams from Vienna stiile that Austria has refused to accept a German Generalissimo on the Italian front. It is understood /that von Below instead takes three corns specinlly entrusted with the task of drivhu; the Allies from the Asiago Plateau.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. EMPRESS ZITA UNDER A CLOUD ROYAL DIVORCE REPORTED TO BE IMMINENT London, July S. The "Daily Tolegraph's" corrospondont at Milan states that Austrian papers ai' lego that the divorce of Emporor Karl and Empress Zita is imminent. Her opposition to tho bombardment of Italian towns was so strong that it produced a real difference with tho Emperor. The correspondent adds that a dingraceful military clique is largely responsible for the allegations against the Lmpress, being anxious to attribute the failure on tho Piavo to the fact that Venico was not first bombarded. and razed to tho ground by the guns of tho Austrian warships. As a matter of.fact, the order was given to the- Austrian Fleet oarlior to steam for an Italian port on tho Adriatic and raze- it to tho ground as a iireliminnrr to the Pioye offensive, but Lieutenant IJizzo's fcjcit in sinking an Austrian battleship averted tho ixmibardinent—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.' ON THE ALBANIAN FRONT SUCCESSFUL OPERATIONS. (Pec. July 10, 8.15 p.m.) London, July !). An Italian official report from the Albanian front states: -"Tho action continues on our left wing. After till artillery .preparation, in which the British monitors effectively participated, tho infantry from tho Lower Vojussa. carvied, ai'tor a bitter struggle, tho hedgots between Lavani and the I'ojani monastery. Meanwhilo the cavalry, attacked tho enemy in the rear and destroyed tho Semens bridges at. Melali. AVo captured Fieri, and also strongly defended posi- , tions at Cafaglava and Corocof, and tho heights at Cafadevris, at tho head. of Toinorica. Our prisoners now exceed 1300."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Keutor. AUSTRIAN OFFICIAL REPORT. (Roc. July 10, 8.25 p.m.) London, July !). A 'wireless Austrian official report states: "The pressure of tho oncmy's forces advancing across tho Vojussa. continues. There, has been fightiug westward of Berat, in connection with which Oio French' gained ground in tho Upper Dovoii."—Aus.-N.Z.- Cablo Assu.-Reuter.