ITALIAN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, 26 June 1918, Page 5

ITALIAN FRONT.

ITALY'S DASHING ATTACK. LONDON, June 24. Eeuter's Italian war correspondent says that the Austrians Were not only beaten, but suffered a partial disaster the extent and importance of which which cannot yet be estimated. The Austrians at night began to withdraw from the Piave, hoping to petreat, without attracting attention, but the Italian patrols, penetrating the enemy lines, discovered the manoeuvre The Italian artillery directed intense fire on the enemy troops as they were crossing the river, and at 11 o'clock yesterday morning the Italian infantry, with magnificent dash, took the offensive, broke in the Montello front and the Austrian retirement, became a disorderly retreat. At Nirvasa, which the Italians reoccupied, they found the Austrian guns intact, with ammunition, as well as the Italian artillery lost at the beginning of the offensive. The waters of the Piave are carrying away much material and hundreds of corpses. Italian aviators bombed and machine-gunned the retreating masses, which are crowding the bridges.

THE AUSTRIAN DRIVE. LOSSES TOTAL 180,000. LONDON, June 24. Mr. Ward Price writes that the Austrians have been badly beaten everywhere. It is estimated that they lost 180,000. They are still attempting to continue local fighting for the crossings of the Piave with the" view to preparing for the next stage" of the general strugle by linking up the two salients. Fierce collisions occurred in the central swamps of Cava Zuccherina, which protect Venice. All the fighting in this topsy-turvy corner of the field was done algoii narrow shelves between dykes, giving the advantage to the ■ defekders; who were "composed of odd assortment of sailors, Bersaglieri; and coastguards using amphibious batteries which moved alternately 0 bri land and water. TOO EARLY TO JUBILATE. GERMANY MAY STIFFEN AUSTRIA ' •»•• LONDON, June 24. Mr. Lovat Eraser, writing in the "Times," says that' it is too soon to sing the dbxology over Austria's failure. Some' stout German divisions will probably stiffen the enemy and enable him to re-attack somewhere between the Tonale Pass and Leke Garda. .. THE DEFEAT A CRUSHING BLOW r " NO FURTHER OFFENSIVE ' " POSSIBLE. FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. • GERMAN PLANS WITHOUT GERMAN THOROUGHNESS. LONDON, June 25. It is understood the Austrian defeat is so crushing that it is impossil>e to resume the offensive for several weeks. The spirit of the troops is broken and some of the best Austrian units have no longer any fighting value. One cause of the disaster was faulty judgment in placing the reserves. The German scheme of attack was cunningly worked out, but the Austrians neglected to apply German thoroughness to details, hence the erserves failed at the critical moment to meet the clever Italian strategy. The line of the Piave from Montello to the sea is now most strongly held, and it is impossible for the disorganising "Austrian armies to retake it. The military view is there is not the least likelihood of the Austrians attempting to rocross the river. Thirty-seven enemy divisions have been identified.

HORRIBLE SCENES AT .RIVER'S EDGE. LONDON, June 24. It is expected that the Austrian casualties will be immensely increased by the present fighting. It is already known that the re-crossing of the Piave resulted in the most serious losses. There were horrible scenes of carnage at the water's edge, where masses of bewildered Austrians were awaiting a chance of using the hastily improvised bridges, which the Italian artillery and aeroplanes were continually destroying. Many were also drowned in the river. The pioneer American aviation corps did particularly brilliant- service in attacking the bridges, until the passageways were finally blocked with dead and wounded Austrians # The Italians; after a violent bombardment, recaptured Nervesa by a brilliant bayonet charge on Sunday afteni(K>».

ITALIAN COMMANDER'S FINE I JUDGMENT. , LONDON, June 24. Latest telegrams from the front say it is impossible yet to calculate the extent of the Austrian disaster. The Italians, in advancing, showed magnificent elan, the victory exalting the courage of the troops. Directly General Diaz learned that the- Austrian commander had given the order to retreat commenced on Sunday, and by 11 o'clock on Monday morning the retreat had become a rout. Italian aviators were continually bombing the Austrians crowding across the bridges, which, one by one, were destroyed untill only a single bridge was left; in the Montello sector. "■ i) •-■ The Austria casualties are at least ISO,OOO and those of the Italians 80,000 AUSTRIANS PUSHED .AGAINST THE PIAVE. GEOUND COVERED WITH ENEMY DEAD. LONDON, June 24. At 6.20 this evening an Italian official message stated: Yesterday gave us the crowning results of victory. The enemy was pushed up against tire bank of the Piave on an ever-narrow-ing strip of ground, unceasingly bom-barded-by artillery and aeroplanes. After maintaining himself desperately on the. right bank for eight days, at the cost of enormous sacrifices, the en- : emy began on the night of June 22nd, withdrawal to the left bank, crossed the river under the deadly fire of our artillery. The retreat continued on Sunday, prdTccted by a strong array of machine-guns and covering troops, who, after a stubborn rcsisetance, were driven back from Montello and all the right, bank of the Piave excepting a small .portion at Musilo, where the struggle continues. An extraordinary number of Austrian dead cover the ground, proving the enemy's valour and his great defeat. '* >iuSTRIANS EVERYWHERE IN ' :,: ; '' OJ 'retreat. !l '' ; "; ; , r ? lJ f MsK' Y i>'»" * 'LONDON; r June 24.., : Thc la'tbst 'news 'States''that the Austrians have wholly 'evacuated Montello and re-crossed the river, partly by the one remaining, bridge and partly by wading. They are being followed up by the Italians, who have captured one general and hundreds of prisoners and also recaptured twenty-ttwo of their own guns. The Italians arc now .on the north bank, -with one bridge at Eaily and another-'at Nervaca, where they are making bridgeheads and meeting with little opposition. Between Montello and Zenson the Italians arc on the river for the whole distance. They are making bridgeheads at Mont di Piave, and on ;the whole of that front arc pushing; over cavalry. The enemy south, of., iZenspn.i.are ; fighting a- stubborn:;rearguard .faction in .order ■to . cover the. retreat -of -. the- .main army, .but only two,bridgeheads--are left them one at San Dona and another at Grisolera. The Italians have recovered the Caposile bridgehead, with prisoners'. The situation at precsnt is that the 1 Italians have practically restored the situation to what it was before the Austrian attack. The enemy had very few reserves onjtho Piave- sector, and had also made few trenches' cast of the Piave, besides which their lateral communications are bad, rendering the passage of reinforcements from, the j north extremely difficult. At a modi crate estimate the Austrians' losses I are double those of the Italians. i ! " AUSTRIAN VERSION OP THE RETREAT. i i LONDON, June 24. | Wireless Austrian official:— The j height of the river and bad weather caused us to evacuate Montello and other positions on the right bank of the Piave. Th e order was given four days ago. Our evacuation was unobserved by the enemy.

CAPTURE OF PRISONERS CONFIRMED. ENEMY'S RETREAT PRECIPITOUS. Received 8.45 a.m. LONDON, June 25. 'Advices show that General Diaz, the Italian Commander-in-chief, issued a proclamation, explaining the deep importance of the effort about to be made, and exhorting the troops to show the enemy their full force. The armies in the night continued to advance. The Italian Embassy in London confirms the statement that the prisoners already counted total 45,000, besides enormous booty. A semi-official communique anticipates the enemy will attribute the retirement to a spontaneous decision because the Piave was flooded, but the retreat was precipitous. The enemy massed twenty divisions on the right bank of the river and brought up artillery in great numbers. The Italians are proud of beating all the Austrian army

PIAVE BATTLE DYING DOWN. Received 9.45 a.m. LONDON, June 25. The Piave battle is dying *ifow"n apparently to local actions. ITALIANS ON WEST BANK OF PIAVE. Received 11.10 a.m. ROME, June 25. The Italian troops have completely re-oceupicd the west bank of the Piave. SURRENDER AT MONTELLO. Received 11.25 a.m. WASHINGTON, June 25. Mr. Baker telegraphed. America's congratulations on the Italian victory. The Italian Embassy despatches states: The enemy divisions on our side of the Piave were decimated a? Montello, and surrendered. After three different attacks the enemy liDes broke at Delia de la Madorna and Nervesa. Fighting continues in the San Dona sector American airman participated, one landing in the middle of the Piave after a battle with two enemy machines. GREAT POSSIBILTIES. ITALIAN GENERAL'S GREAT SUCCESS. LONDON, June 24. Thf. situation in Italy abounds In possibilities, but General Diaz is not likely to take risks, aS he has already scored a great success. It is estimated that the' Austrians have twenty divisions in general reserve, so it is impossible for General Diaz to throw his infantry across the Piave without full preparation. The Austrians thus far have used seventy divisions in the battle, each one-half more numer: ous than German divisions. Prisoners state that eight divisions initiated the storming of 'the Asiago Plateau, yet it was necessary to put in seven divisions of reserve the very first day, as the Austrian losses wer f e tremendous. It is now clear that the grandiose scheme of crushing Italy in order to enable a final Austro-German advance in France has collapsed. The Emperor Karl, realising the situation was hopeless on the battlefield, hurried back to Vienna to deal with civilian disorders. There is grave anxiety in Berlin regarding Austria. The Kaiser sent Ludendorff on a special mission to Vienna.