Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-06-25
CAVALRY PuRSuES
RETREATING HUNS
he Italian armies n the Pave front are now
advancing beyond the lin es which they held be-
fore the Austro-f1ungari an offensive began elev-

en- days ago.
Fighting continues with
the Austro-Hungarians'
rear guard forces trying vainIy to
stem the Italian advance.
It is unofficialIy reported that =
great AustroH Hungarian army has been
cut of in the zone east of the piave
and that it must surrender or be an.
initiated.
Six thousand prisoners have been
counted by the Italians IN Ia date
anu huge stores of booty have been
captured, including many big Skoda
guns.
Italian infantry and cavalry con.
tinue to pursue hotly the retreating
austrian armies decimating the ranks
that stand up to oppose them.
This in fact is Italys day.
In Full Retreat.
Washington, June 25.-The Austrj.
ans are in full retreat.
\ They evidently foresaw the possi-
bilitF Of an Italian defeat but never
anticipated the possibility of their
own defeat, says an official dispatch
from Rome 20 the Italian embassy to.
day.
A paper found on an Austrian pris-
oner reveals that the offensive against
italy was to be the last stroke: that
1t would put Italy out of the war and
force her to sue for separate peace"
the dispatch added The Austrian sol.
diers were promised food and booty
and this explains the desperation with
winch the Austrians nave fought.
Italian hydroplanes succeeded in
dropping bombs and setting fire to a
large Austrian ship steaming near
the eastern Adriatic coast The en-
ba,Sy had nothing 70 add today to It's
statement of last night. that il had
confirmation that $4,000 Austrian pris.
oners had been taken
Huns Prepare the AIibi.
Washington. June 25-Germany az
ready Is preparing the people back
home for an admission of failure OF
the entire 1915 campaign against the
allies according to confidential infor,
nation received by the state depart.
ment today.
According o the reports the Ger.
man government agencies and news.
papers are now engaged in making II
plain to the people that certain de-
yeIopmenls very likely will make It
impossible completely to overrun
France This year as was promised last
spring
However these agencies are ey.
planning that next year The situation
viii be much better from the stanu,
point Of Germany and that then
France will be overcome and England
and America defeated The informa-
tion also says that tty German agents
are making IL plain that men reeaser
from the army this year will develop
a new phase of Submarine warfare
which viii make the submarine a DO
tent weapon to starge out England
Wants Allied Peace Offer.
Berlin, via Fasle switzerland, Iune
2o--"Germany and her allies wish 10
live within the frontiers traced by
history With pos> essions beyond the
seas corresponding 10 our greatness
and yicbues, ana our capacity for or.
sani2aIon" declared Dr. Won Kueh'.
mann. the German foreign secretary.
IN an address before the reichstag de.
tin.na The war aims of the central
powers
The foreign secretary also said that
the German allies want freedom OF
trade TO all parts Of the world Re.
aarding Belgium we do no, wish 20
bind our hands. while our aiversar.
ies do nor express themselves adder
the foreign secretary
We hopp .hat orr enemies will
understand it Is dream and an Il.
u,ion 10 hope 40 dghf successfully
against means which we have Al our
disposal and that hey VIII find The
momenl bias come 10 make peace Of
fers corresponding to the situation
satisfying The vital necessities Of Ger.
many
The foreign secretary placed the
gull for the war upon Russia and DE-
MED tina. Germany stroye for world
domination