ITALIAN CAMPAIGN.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 June 1918, Page 2

ITALIAN CAMPAIGN.

[VEB J’RESS ASSOCIATION. —COPYRIGHT.] AUSTRIAN CLAIMS. PARIS, June 23. j Austrian news via Switzerland attributes the defeat of the offensive to Czechoslovak treachery. Viennese newspapers declare traitors supplied the Italians with plans of the offensive: j OFFICIAL REPORT: \ LONDON, June 23. An Italian official message states: “Our artillery continues to bombard ' lifip enemy intensely on the whole front. ■ The British ;in an energetic surprise action, broke into the enemy’s linos southward of Asiago. They killed ]<)o and took 31 prisoners. “Our airmen bombarded the enemy communications and downed ten aeroplanes.” “Tile enemy lost since the loth ninety five aeroplanes.’’

A WOEFUL TALE. LONDON, June 23. A wireless Austrian official message states that the fighting on the Piave has been less violent. The enemy only resumed counter attacks on the southern wing of our front. Heavy rains hnvo multiplied the burdens and privations of our troops. The Piave became a rushing stream. Communication between the banks were often interrupted for several hours. Wo arc experiencing great difficulties in providing the Front with necessaries, munitions and provisions.

DRIVEN BACK. ACROSS THE PIAVE. LONDON, June 23. the enemy, in disorder, are crossing the Piave froiti Montello to the sea, and are being closely pursued. THE AUSTRIAN LOSSES. fAUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION] ROME, June 23rd. The enemy appears to he exhausted. The territory now occupied by the Austrians is less than half that gained during the first few days of the attack. Their total losses now exceed two hundred thousand.

RETREATING FROM PIAVE

LONDON, June 23. The latest reports from Rome indicate that the Ausrians have abandoned theit effort- westward of the Piave. They are retreating poll iiiell, and fire hastily constructing bridges across the river.

AUSTRIAN CLAIM DENIED . ROME, Juno 24. Tho Austrians claim they have taken 40,000 prisoners. This is semiofficially contradicted. The truth is, that tins figure represents the whole Italian casualties, which compared with the length of the front, ami the effectiveness involved, is very small DEFEAT IN FIRST PHASE. LONDON, June 23. An Italian semi-official message states that reciprocal artillerying is still intense along the Piave,', wliilo attacks and counter attacks, to assume tactical advantages are proceeding. The first phase of the great battle, has. however, terminated. It has been a fiiil defeat for the Austro-Hungarian Armies, which have, not .succeeded in reaching any of their objectives. On Monteilo heights and in front of Ilandona, the enemy sacrifices were tutor lrious. Entire regiments Jbeing destroyed. The enemy losses, at least are 80,000 without gaining even an indispensable initial success of some dominating height, assuring the crossing of the Piave.

ITALY'S PREMIER. TRIBUTES THE TROOPS. (Received This Day, at 12.55 a.m.) ROME June 24. Premier Orlando in a stirring speech in the Senate said tho Army had been confronted with the most formidable task of the whole war. Despite the enemy's numerical superiority, attacking almost on the hole, of our seventylive mile front, the Italians had victoriously succeeded in with standing the onslaught, A fresh battle may spou reopen, hut without boasting or excessive optimism, they were entitled to he well satisfied with the feeble- results secured, in view of the enemy's ambitious objectives. He could say the offensive thus far had ended, hot in failure, hub in defeat.

Premier Orlando paid a glowing tribute to Anglo-French and declared the nation also owed a debt of gratitude to the heroic defenders of the Piave.

ROME JUBILATING. (Received This Dayv at 12.10. a.m.) ROME, June 23. Rome is en fete iu connection with tho great Piave victory. The city is boflagged. Other cities celebrated the success by patriotic demonstrations, particularly Venice, which is no longer threatened. AUSTRIAN FAILURE.

(Received This Day, at 12.10. a.m.) LONDON, June 23. The “ Daily Telegraph’s” Milan correspondent. states the failure of the Austrian offensive is now officially recorded, but Italian troops were firmly convinced from the outset that, the battle was won. This encouraged them in the counter-attacks, and diminished the importance of the Austrians’ minor gains.

A COMPLETE DISASTER. OVERTAKES THE AUSTRIANS i (Received This Day at 12.30. a.m.) LONDON, 24th. Further nows from the Italian front is awaited with the keenest interest. ! Military critics accept the accuracy of the report that a complete disaster has | overtaken the Austrians, between Montello and the sea, pointing out that their failure to gain indispensiblo initial success in the mountain sector, renderjed the crossing of Piave insecure. Com i immication across the river from the outset was only maintained with difficulty. , The news that a retreat has begun, gives added significance to Austria’s gloomy communique regarding the difficult condition of the Piave. Is is generally believed that the communique. was intended to pave the way for worse days. CREAT ITALIAN SUCCESS. ■13,000 AUSTRIANS CAPTURED. HEAVY DEFEAT AT PIAVE. (Press Association.—Extraordinary) (Received This Day at 9.25 a.m.) LONDON, June 24. The Italians have captured forty-five thousand prisoners and enorhious war stores and guns. The Italians are now pursuing the Austrians east- of the. Piave river.

EMPEROR CARL’S VISIT. DECISION TO STOP ATTACKS. (Received This Day at 9.50. a.m.) LONDON, June 24. The “ Daily Telegraph’s” Milan correspondent says the two Austrian operations have become incoherent since Thursday. Their attacks wore limited to a few struggling efforts. The Emperor Carl arrived on the scene, not to'“record a victory , but to advise what was best to be done in the disastrous circumstances. He made a rapid inspection of. the Alpine sectors, and then proceeded to the lines behind tho Pinve ) accompanied by the Archduke Frederick and General Marz, Chief of Staff, and the Prussian -Major-General Crammon, representing Hindenburg and Ludendorff.

A consultation was held with commanders at-each Array Headquarters and then a Council of War was convened at a. villa near the Piave, where a general cessation of tho attacks was decided on.

The Emperor left, via the Tyrol, after visiting his brother, the Archduke Maximilian, who is nearly deaf through a shell-hurst,

THE AUSTRIAN DEBACLE. Received, this day at 8 45 a.m. LONDON, June 24. The newspapers estimate that seven-ty-five thousand Austrians are involved in a disorderly flight. The debacle is certain to have a disastrous effect on the enemy’s morale, and the most serious internal consequences in AustroHungary. AUSTRIANS WANT AID. HEAVY LOSSES. [“keuter’s” telegram.] - (Received This Dav at 9.30. a.m.) PARIS, June 24th. Italian headquarters state the Austrian command are asking for aid from Germany. This implies a recognition of Italy’s victory. Tiie enemy’s losses, including prisoners. are nearly two hundred thousand. It- is understood here that the result of the offensive will prevent the wholesale transfer of Austrians to France, with a view to counter-poising the arrival of the Americans,

GREAT REJOICING, ROME, June 24. The news of tho Austrian defeat was greeted with immense enthusiasm. The city is beflagged. A COMPLETE ROUT. ' PARIS, June 21. The, French press regards the Austrians’ defeat as an almost complete rout. GERMAN TROOPS FOR ITALY. WASHINGTON, June 21. The Germans are hurrying troops from France to Italy. THE ITALIAN PURSUIT. PRESSING ALL ALONG FRONT. rAUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABI.B ASSOCIATION] A UEUTER.]

{'Received This Dav ntl 1.25. a.m.) LONDON, July 20. An Italian semi-official message states that our pursuit at a certain point has reached the left bank of the Piave. The Austrians abandoned considerable quantities of material. The prisoners, have, not yet counted. n There was continued pressure on Sunday from. M.ontello seawards, whm obliged tho enemy to retire in dl6orde > and ho has already been thrown back at almost all points, to the left. the Piave. . , , , _ Monteilo has been entirely retaken, and along tho Piavo considerable bodies of Italians have fought their way to the old line on the right bank. Infantry and cavalry detachments reconquered several positions on tho loft hank, at Caposilo. , Numerous bombing squadrons elsewhere were also thrown across tho nv-