Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-06-24
In Rom Teutons Leave Guns, Munitions and Supplies
Italians in Pursuit May Capture Foe Great Army in
Peril and Likely to be Destroyed in Attempting TO
Cross Swollen Piave; Victory of Tremendous Import
to Allies May Bring Revolution in Austria.
FOE IN DEADLY TRAP
Petreating Invaders Moved DoUr
as They Scramble Through
Sectors Of Diaz's Patriots.
QUIET ON WESTERN FRONT


.ssociated Press sum mary ISSUED ~ ) +
Shattered on The rock Of Italian
resistance the Austrian offensive hae
turned into a retreat and from Mon
ieiiO 10 the sea the enemy IS hurrying
back across the Piave before The
closely pursuing Italians.
Austria's defeat ~ being hailed
throughout italy and Allied countries
not 50 much because Of the Italian
victory, but because Of the awakening
Of the Italian morale which was shak-
en- severely last fall By the Austro-
German offensive Holding The
final barriers 30 the Venetian plain
and Lombardy, the Italians by their
steadfast resistance during eight
days of heavy fighting turned the
great enemy onslaught into a di--
orderly repulse.
The Austriana have LEI their
artillery, munitions and supplies
behind them.
Fleeing Foe Faces Destruction.
Whether the several enemy divi-
siOns on the western bank Of he
LfdNt WIZ DF hNtf lD F-Fhtf AHtaufF
or destruction in attempting n get
across the Piave to the opposite hank
will be the most interesting develop
nent Of the next few hours. The
river is swollen and Vienna in it,
latest communication seems 10 be
preparing the way for unweicome
news. II diiates at length on the
burdens placed on the troops by the
heavy rains ana the t0rTentiai Piaye.
Most Of the Austrian bridges are
gone and the Italian heavy artillery
is still within range at points where
the Austrians crossed and near the
river bank where the Italian line has
held fast.
AustrIans Under Calling Fire.
Undoubtedly General Diazs men
realize the predicament Of the enemy
andtheir pursuit Of the fleeing Aus
trians will be pressed With aruOr.
In Withdrawing from 1Onteilo the
enemy will meet with a. much diff
Guilty as in getting out Of the rain
soaked lOwiands along the lower
reaches OF the Pfave. To aid 10 the
troubles of the Austrian command.
their advances across the Piave
have been on uncOnnected sectors.
vith the Italians holding The sectors
in between
Prior To the beginning cf the enemy
retreat there had been little infantry
fighting along the Piaye for IS hours.
The Italians had occupied the time
in shelIing the enemy lines and COM
municatiOns heavily. In the noun
taiRs the situation is unchanged al
though the allied artillery has been
very active in some sectors.
Austria Loses 10000 Men.
Austrian official claims Of the
capture OF 10000 prisoners and Of
Allied air losses are declared Ia be
falsifed in a semi-0ticial note issued
in Rome. Ii is asserted the Italian
losses in killed. wounded and missing
aggregate 10000. Austrian losses
are placed 2t lS0. 900 by Italian news
papers.
Civil unrest in Austria Hungary =
still rampant and there has been
little alIeyiatiOn OF the food conditions.
Failure Of the Austrian offensive viii
have an appreciable effect on the
situation IN The dual monarchy.
Emperor harles iS reported 10 have
reserved decision regarding The
collective resignation Of the Austrian
cabinet.
Germans in France Silent.
Except for raids At nigh; and in
The early morning hours there is no
activity on the frOnl in France and
Flanders The American sectors are
quiet. The Germans show no in
tcntion 0f again taking up forward
movement. but the next onslaught.
like previous ones. probably sill
begin unheralded except by several
hours of intense bOmbardmenl.
Associated Press Summary Issued
3 .. m;
Italy's victory over the Ausunans
on the PiavCs front appears likely 20
assume the proportions Of verI-
table triumph for The Italians and a
disaster Of great magnitude for the
defeated enemy.
Already. Il il announced IN ot-
ficial dispatches from Rome, the
Austrtans have lost $4,000 men n
prisoners and great quantities OF
material. Whlle The extent Of their
other casualties may be Indicated
by the thousands Of bodies floating
IA tht. waters OF the swollen Pave.