Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1918-06-27
ITALIANS WIN A
GREAT VICTORY
200, 900 Austrians Lost and $4,000
Captured in Big Drive Launched
Piave River

Austrian armies again are moved
beyond the Piave, and the river line
again bars the enemy from the We
netian plain. The crushed Austrian
forces were not only pursued to the
river. but the Italians, at ali points,
have occupied strong bridgeheads ON
the eastern bank.
How thorough the Italian victory
has been is not yet clear, as every
hour brings reports of increasing
Austrian losses. Many thousands of
the invaders were killed in their at:
tempt to regain the eastern bank of
the river and the latest announce
ment from General Diaz places the
number of prisoners alone at, 40
GOO One report places the Aus
! trian casualties at 100000 men. In
addition. the enemy lost large stores
of munitions and supplies and many
guns.
Apparently the sudden torrent in
the Piave which played havoc with
the Austrian communications, fell as
quickly as it arose and the river bed
was dry when the Austrian retreat
began. This enabled the enemy to
get many of his troops across, 9TH
erwise his losses would have been
measurably greater.
Vienna blames the weather and
the high water in the river for the
retirement and gives no credit to the
stout Italian resistance which held
the enemy on the western bank and
was gradually forcing him back to
the river. 1t says the order to with
| draw was given last Thursday and
leaves the. impression that the re-
treat was carried out unobserved by
the Italians.
! 1t has been reported that Baron
Burian, the Austro-Hungarian for
eign minister, told the German COM
mand that great events, possibly rev.
olution, would follow in the dual
monarchy if an Austrian attack
which Germany insisted upon. was
repulsed. No reports say that the
disorders and unrest within the
! Hapsburg empire have ceased. Ii
fact. late news dispatches give scanty
intelligence as to the state of affairs
in Austria.
If the Austrian offensive was ex
pected by the German command tC
relieve the situation on the western
front. the Teuton strategists have
had bitter disappointment. Aus
tria will probably be unable to take
up a new forward movement on the
Piave line for few days. In fact
the Piave front appears to be strong
er now than at the beginning of the
present movement.
Operations ON the mountain from
are still at a standstill and If EN-
peror Charles wishes to push his of
fensive against Italy the next enem,
attacks may come from this front
unless the Italians continue their ad
vance eastward from he Piave, 0
which, however, there are 10 indicc
lions at present
Along the front from the Nortl
Sea to Switzerland the allied armies
are awaiting another blow from tit
Germans. Premier Lloyd-George hal
told the British house OF commons
that another gigantic enemy effor
is coming. within few days. Th'
allies are ready to combat i
British and French troops on TIL
Flanders battlefield have carried OF,
local operations successfully on tn
plateau north of LepOrt. west o
scissors. and along the Aisne tn
French have improved their posi-
lions and captured 10 prisoners.
: In a local effort in Balleau wood
northwest of Chateau Thiery, tn
American troops have completed tn
capture of the woods. Some prison
ers and five machine guns wer
taken. In Alsace several American
: are missing as a result of enem,
raids. There is no confirmation o
the Berlin official report that fort.
French and American prisoners wer,
captured in raid near Badonviller
on the Luneyilles front.