ITALY'S PIAVE VICTORY.

Taihape Daily Times, 8 July 1918, Page 3

ITALY'S PIAVE VICTORY.

GajfcWON BY OWN RIGHT HAND. ~ AUSTRIANS NOT YET ROUTED. London,, June 25. | Commenting on the Italian victory on the Piave the "Times" says: The British and French gave valuable help in the mountain sectors, but it is a victory won by Italy's' own right hand, crushing the deadly menace which has been overhanging the west Piave for eight terrible days. Mr. Lloyd George's estimate of the defeat perhaps is excessive. The modest despatches of General Diaz pay tribute to Austrian valour, and do not suggest at present a routed and broken army. It is too early confidently to speculate on developments. The' Austrians so far have generally met defeat stubbornly; Von Wurni's and the Archduke Joseph's armies were obligell to retire into a narrow front, where they were i raked by continual Italian fire. It wa<-. difficult to obtain supplies. The enemy apparently intends to say that the retirement was spontaneous owing to the, Piave being flooded, but it is evident that the waters have diminished, as the majority of the Austrians were enabled to ford the river and escape. Mr. Ward Price reports that a heavy British counter attack at lAsiago synchronised with the Austrian defeat on i[he Piave. During the retreat the Italian artillery raked the Italians, but the latter i did not falter, irresistibly rushing the enemy into the river, where hundreds were drowned. They then advanced in three-column formation and completed the debacle. The desperate resistance only increased the enemy's losses. A New York message states that the Italian Navy effectually co-operated, battering the Tagliamento positions, while the marines, operating along the Lower Piave, advanced and captured hundreds of prisoners. The Austrian losses include an appalling number of killed. DEMONSTRATIONS IN ROME. There was a great demonstration in Rome in honour of the army. Flags f were. Sown in Venezia Square, and an enormous crowd, carrying flags, cheered the fervent patriotic orations. Afterwards, the crowd went in procession to Parliament iand the Premier's residence, where Signor Orlando spoke from a balcony. The Servian Premier, M. Pashitch, telegraphed to Signor Orlando, expressing the enthusiasm of the Servians for Italy's brilliant victory, "which brings nearer the accomplishment of the war's great task—respect to the rights of all peoples." Reuter's correspondent at Rome reports that 200 deputies marched in procession to the Premier's office to convey the congratulations of Parliament on the victory. Signor Orlando welcomed them with the cry "Viva Italia!" He explained that the enemy was completely ejected from Montello. Ha lost two-thirds of the ground he occupied on the middle and lower Piave, and also positions between Car*osile and thelower Piave held by him prior to the offensive. The enemy was still defending himself desperate- \ ly in a few positions. j ENEMY BEATEN IN THE FIRST I STAGES. ' fcignor Orlando added, amid laugh- ! ter that one of the Austrian regiments carried a banner, inscribed, "Piave, I 1918," with the representation of the I lior of St. Mark surmounted by ah I eagle. But the lion was depicted calm ! an.l majestic, while the eagle was j more like a mosquito than anything j else. The truth was that the enemy was i beaten in the first days of' the battle J by the Italians' heroic defence. He j did not hesitate to say that the disaster of Caparetto, in a certain sense, was a name of the greatest glory In [ Italy. "Our people had never sustain- j . ed such a disaster, but they have shown how a brave people can rise af- , ter terrible blows." | '. The Italians were truly marvellous j ' in the days of Caporetto. The army j had only two days' supplies of flour, and the country districts were without' flour for 12 days. There was "no coal, j. and passenger trains were unable to move for lack of lubricating oil. All these difficulties were overcome, thanks to the tenacity of the people. (Cheers). '