ITALIAN CAMPAIGN.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 July 1918, Page 3

ITALIAN CAMPAIGN.

[PER TRESS ASSOCIATION.— COPYRIGHT.j

AMERICANS IN ITALY

(Received Yesterday at 11.10. p.m.) WASHINGTON, June 29. It is officially announced that the first American troops have arrived in Italy.

HUNGARIAN LOSSES. AMSTERDAM June 10. The Hungarian premier, in h speech in the Lower House, said in tho I’iave retreat twelve thousand prisoners fell into the Italians hands. Much sadder was the loss suffered in dead, wounded and sick. Our - losses

were about ono hundred thousand

Regarding the rumours that Hungarrian troops will again be called upon in excessively large numbers, so that tho losses only fall on them, he pointed out. that thirty-three Hungarian and thirty-seven Austrian regiments participated in the advance and retreat The Italians lost one hundred and fill;, thousand.

Rumours were circulated that our losses wore caused by a lack of ammunition, but our Army was never so well provided with ammunition. Three bridges across tho Piave were carried away, whereby insurmountable difficulties arose in transporting ammunition and provisiins. The retreat was carried out according to plan, despite these regrettable events. There was no doubt that we inflicted important losses on the Italians and prevented tnem from s<” ing troops to the Western Front, which is without doubt the objective, which in the common interest of the war. it is also our duty to attain and did attain.

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION. AMSTERDAM June 30

An official Vienna telegram seeks to minimise the Premiers statement of the losses, and explains that Herr Wekerles figures were due to a telephonic error. Our losses were less than in the Isonzo battles, which amounted to from eighty to a hundred thousand. Moreover they covered the whole period, from the fifteenth to the twentieth June, and included the sick.