The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-11-01
D|Az REFUSES
.ARMISTICE TO
TRAPPED FOE
Austrian Armies in Italy Com
p|ete|y Cut in Two; $4,000
Prisoners Counted.
BIG FORCE CAUGHT IN TRAP
Official Dispatches Say Greatest De-
bacIe of the War Is in Progress
Along 18O-MIe Front-Czecho-
SIovak Troops Are Helping.

London, Nov. 1.-The Austrian COM
mander on the Italian front has ap-
piled to General Diaz, the Italian COM
mander in chief, for an armistice, the
Exchange Telegraph company states.
The application, the news agency adds,
has been forwarded to the Versailles
conference.
Offer Too Late.
Italian Army Headquarters, Nov. 1.
In answer to Austria's announce
ment that she was ready to evacuate
Italian territory, Italy has officially
replied that the offer has come too
late. 1t is assumed the Italians will
endeavOr to drive the Austro-Hungari-
ans from Italian soil before an armis-
tice can be signed.
General Diaz, the Italian commander
in chief, has issued the following bull
letin to his troops:
SOLDIERS, forward In Italy's name
we will place the wreath Of victory
Forward Our immortal country
callsw
Great DebacIe.
London, Nov. 1.-The Austro-Hun-
garian armies in Italy have been cut
completely in two by the Italians and
the greatest military debacle of the
war is in progress along the 1SO-mile
front from the Stelvio pass to the Ad-
riatic.
This news was carried in official
Italian wireless dispatches reaching
London.
They announced that $4,000 prison
ers and $50 cannon had fallen into the
hands of the victors thus far.
100000 Men Cut OFF,
The "break through" of the Italians
was made at POnte Dele Albe, just
northeast of Belluno BY their success
the Austrian armies operating on the
Piave, estimated at 100000 men, have
been cut off from their comrades in
the mountains.
Describing the Austrian rout the Of
fetal message from Rome says:
becoming more and more stupendous.
The enemy is completely routed east
Of the Piave and is with great diff
Guilty sustaining the incessant pressure
of our troops in the mountain region,
in the plain and in the Alpine foot
hills of Venetia
"Our armies are aiming irresistibly
toward the detectives which have been
designated.
Rush to TagIiamento.
"The enemy masses are streaming
in confusion down the mountain val
leys in an attemp< to reach passes on
the Tagliamento. Prisoners, guns, war
material and storehouses, scarcely
touched, fell into our hands.
"The Twelfth army, after having
completely taken possession of the
heights Of Ceseme, is fighting to con-
quer the Pass of -QuerO. The Eighth
army has conquered the ridge between
the valley Of Follina and the valley of
the Piave, and has occupied the pass
of Serravalle, advancing toward the
plain of Cansiglio, aiming at the plain
of Pordsnone. The Tenth army has
brought it's front on the Livenza.
Czecho-SIovaks Help.
'The Third army is pushing ahead,
overwhelming and capturing the en-
envy, who offers a bitter resistance,
Czecho-Slovak troops are participating
in the action.
''In the Grappa region our troops re-
newed their attack, and this morning
succeeded in conquering Col Caprile,
Col Bonatto, Asolone, Mount Prasseo-
Ian, the salient of Solaro, Mount Spin
oncia, and the plateau of Asiago."