ITALIAN CAMPAIGN.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 July 1918, Page 3

ITALIAN CAMPAIGN.

£per press association.— copyright.j

THE FAIVE DELTA

[LONDON TIMES SERVICE—COPYRIGHT] ißeceived I'his Dnv at 12.25. p.m.) LONDON, July 19.

Mr Ward Price writes.—The Austrians are bitterly reluctant to lose their half drowned positions on the Piave delta, for which they made terrible sacrifices last winter. Two Italian officers who were recently prisonered, have escaped. They describe how an exalted Austrian Admiral and a large staff, assembled at Cavrec, ten miles behind the front waiting to assume command of the naval base at Venice. The Austrians retreated from the delta, only when they were liable to complete extermination. Added to the increasing Italian shelling and machine-gunning, there was imminent starvation owing to the cutting J off of supplies. The retirement, under henry fire, disorganised the remnant. Tho shattered four divisions left heaps of corpses everywhere sinking in the delta’s greasy mud. The dead include j many of the ctack Viennese corps, j known as the “Company of Death,’’ wearing the emblem of a skull and crossbones, and noted for special* dar-

ing. The Austro-Germans have ordered the censorship to rigidly suppress the news that a clean sweep of generals is involver over tho recent defeat. It is felt that the disclosure of incompetence in military matters, would dangerously increase the discontent in Hungary and of disappointed Austrians.