The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-11-09
4 MILITARY TRIUMPH.
SURRENDER OF AUSTRIA WAS
FORCED BY VICTORY ON
ITALIAN FRONT.
Terms of Armistice Granted We're
Even More Drastic Than Those Al
i lowed Turkey and Bulgaria.

ally Of Germany, passed out OF lhe
world war today under terms OF ao-
ject surrender.
Not only have the armed forces OF
the once powerful Austro-Hungarla
empire laid down their arms to await
the end Of the war and peace terms
dictated by the allies and the Onitea
States, but Austro-Hungarlan terri
tory is open for operations against
Germany. Even the munitions OF
that former ally are to be useo
against the kaiser's armies II refusal
to accept conditions now being pre-
pared for them make prolonged fight
ing necessary
The terms which stopped the VIC
torious advance on the Italian front
were accepted, by the Austrian COM
nnander in chief in the field in the
name OF the Vienna government and
their execution is guaranteed by the
thorough beating already administer
ed whicn had converted the defeated
army into a disorganized fleeing
horde.
Even the terms imposed previous
ly upon Bulgaria and Turkey hardly
were so drastic. In addition to all OF
the military precautions the Austrian
armies are: compelled to retire from
a wide spread Of territory within the
border of their empire when the war
began, surrendering all Of Italian Ir-
redenta and thereby losing any ao-
vantages for argument over boun-
daries around a peace table.
A map survey OF the geographical
lines fixed for Austrian evacuation
shows that the area. is even. greater
than that set by the Italians as the
goal Of their ambition when they en-
tered the war, At that time the Ital-
ian leaders carefully outlined and IN
dicated on their war maps the ter
ritory along their borders which they
deemed it necessary that they acquire
for racial and sentimental reasons
their frontiers.
In decreeing Austris.'s surrender
terms, the supreme war council at
Versailles has followed this outline
closely, but has enlarged upon it to
some extent The right of occupation
of these vacated provinces is stipu-
lated, but it is to be noted that for the
time being civil government is to be
administered by the existing local
civil authorities in cooperation with
the occupying garrison.
This means that the whole question
of final disposition Of the territory in
volved is left to be settled at the
peace table.
italian military officers here thrill
ed with pride tonight over the evi-
dence Of final victory contained in
the armigtice program.
"It is a triumph said General
Gugliemotti, military attache at the
Italian embassy, which hardly 1e
days ago seemed far distant, but in
which Italy and her soldiers have al
ways had unshakable faith, even II
the saddest moments Of last year
when they were compelled to give
way before the crushing superiorlt!
OF the German, Austrian, Bulgarian
and Turkish forces.
From a purely military point o.
view, three causes have, in my opin-
ion, especially contributed to the
triumph of today, the choice Of the
right moment, the efficient direction
Of the attacks; and rapidly Of exc
cution.
@@The happy successes Of the allies
on the French front, the withdrawal
of Bulgaria and Turkey from the
war, left Austria, although with
forces greatly superior, alone against
us. The bad weather and the snow
had already begun to make the move
ments and the provisioning of the
armies in the mountain zone rather
difficult. The same effect was pro
duced in the plains near the sea by
the violent rains which caused the
streams to rise and overflow the low
lands. Such conditions narrowed the
defense lin the concrete case the.
made the attack easier because such
difficulties made it impossible for The
enemy to counterattack successfully
on our fanks and gave US an oppor-
tunity to concentrate greater forces
in narrower space.
Prom the very first moment tbs
intention had been evident Of divid-
ing the Austrian army in such :. wa!
as to separate the mountain section
from that Of the plains and possibly
oi1tfank the retreat Of the Austrian
troops. Hence the rapid and vigoc-
Gus push towards Vittorio Veneto
Ponte Nello APPLE. which promptly
attained the first aira. Hence the rap.
id advance in Val Sugana. Grigno, ant
CasteI Neuova. On the oath Of Oc
tober the initial bombardment wa:
begun. Today, November 4, the Ital
ian flag flies over the castle Of Trent
and on. the tower Of ST. Giusto al
Triest and at o'clock this afternoon
an arrnistice became effective, tbs
clauses of which mean the uncondi
tional surrender Of the enemy.
Against about 20 enemy division
have fought on italian soil, 56 Italian
divisions, three British divisions. on
French division, a regiment of Amer
lean infantry and the Czecho-S!ovai
legion. Nor should the help given b:
our brave allies to US be consideref
slight. Besides the intrinsic valor
the units which have fought side b!