The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-06-24
$4,000 TAKEN
BY ITALIANS,
SAYS REPORT
3. ;Continued From Page One,

.r' CONTINUED From Page One.) No
tenant Yound, attacked by two Aus
trian chasers, was obliged to land on
the lower Pave" >a9
= Germans Rushing Aid. -'
These messages said the Austrian
retreat across the Piave in which the
Italians already have taken $4,000
prisoners, has become veritable rOut
but that information from secret sour
ces shows that many divisions of Ger
man troops have been detached from
the front in France and are being
rushed to the aid OF the Austrian
army.
Germany Awake to Situation.
The Germans are said to be thor.
oughly awake to the probability of
complete collapse OF the Austro-Hun.
garian government, already struggling
with a half starved and riOtiOus PEG.
pie in the event of complete Aus.
tran rout at the hands of the 1tal'
ians. Realization of this fact. Rome
believes, has caused the German gen.
eral staff practically to suspend, II
not to abandon its great offensive In
France as has been evidenced by the
comparative quiet there for the past
week. German soldiers are being rush.
ed by rail to the northern end Of the
Austro.Italian battle lines with the
purpose of restoring the Austrian NOR
ale and not only checking the Italian
counter attack but by force of num-
bers, breaking through the mountain
passes into the plains of Venetia.
With such help as the entente arm
les can give Immediately, supplement.
ed as rapidly as transportation can be
had by4troops directly from America
and, even more important, by ample
military supplies and food for the
army, the Italian general staff is re-
ported to be convinced that the victor.
ious sweep Of the Italian army will
traverse the famous Bainsizza plateau
the scene of the great battles of last
fall-and will not stop until the Ital-
ians have reclaimed all of the cOun-
try up to the right bank of the 1sonzo
which marked the extreme of General
Cadorna's advance. "ags
Struggle Knee-Deep in Mire.
Rain which had been falling for
eight days broke forth more violently
about daylight today at time when
italian artillery and machine guns be-
gan to open up on the retiring Aus
TRANS who were struggling knee deep
in mire.
The Italian cavalry took part in the
pursuit, marrying the fugitives.
AS the Austrians were pressed by
the Italians they threw away their
guns and equipment. They even left
on the Monticello stacks of bread, can
ned meat and preserves which Aus
trian aviators had succeeded in bring
ing to them.
Cross on Rats. ...
The Austrians crossed thte Pave
on RATS and boats which they had
brought up or had prepared during
the darkness on Saturday flight. They
left we'll built trenches. great quaint.
ties of ammunition and blankets and
every variety of army equipment in
their retreat. .-.. ,..-
An Italian staff officer arriving from
the fighting zone on the Pave river ex-
claimed as he ran into the Italian
army headquarters last night:
Victory is ours! We have put the
enemy across the Pave all the way"
The present victory of the Italian
army is considered by military Off.
Gals to be greater than that of the
Austrians on the Bainzizza plateau last
fall. The Austrian retreat was made
more difficult by a violent thunder.
storm