Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-06-25
Floods in the Pave Quickly Dried Up Released Foe From
Trap and Saved Him From Capture or Annihlation
Italians Now in Stronger Position Ready to Meet
Blow Should Routed Invaders Turn to Fight
HUNS READY TOSTR|KE
Allies n France Prepared 10 Meet
Cermany's New Gigantic
Offensive.
AMERICANS ROUT ENEMY

Austria's armies again are beyond
the Piave and the river line once
more bars the enery from the
Venetian plain The crushed Aus
TRAN forces not only we're pursued
to the river. but the Italians At points
have occupied strong brIdgeheads on
the eastern bank
How thorough he Italian yIctory
has been iS not yet clear. as every
hour brings reports Of increasing
Austrian losses. Many thousands Of
the invaders we're killed IN their
attempt 10 regain the eastern bank
If the river and the latest announce
ment from General Diaz places the
number Of prisoners alone at 10000
One report places the Austrian
casualties at zoo 600 men. In ad-
dition the enemy lost large stores of
munitions and supplies and many
guns.
Saved BY Falling Flood.
Apparently the sudden torrent in
the Piave which played havoc with
Austrian communications fell as
quickly as il arose and the river bed
was dry when the Austrian retreat
began. THIS enabled the enemy 10
get many Of his troops across. other
wise his losses would have been
greater for the armies captured
Vienna blames the weather ana
the high water in the river for the re-
tirement and gives no credit to the
stout ItaiIan resistance which held
the enemy on the western bank ana
was gradually forcing him back 10
the river. II says the order 20 with
draw was given last Thursday ana
leaves the impression that the re-
treat Was carried out unooserveu
by the Italians.
Ii has been reported that Baron
Burian. the Austro- Hungarian foreign
minister told the German command
that grave events. possibly reyoiu-
ton. would follow in the dual mon
archy If an Austrian attack which
Germany insisted upon. was repuised-
There have been no reports that the
disorders and unrest within the
Hapsburg empire have ceased. Late
news dispatches give scanty inteiii-
gence as TO the state OF affairs in
Austria.
Italians Position Stronger.
III the Austrian offensive was ex-
Dected by the German command 10
relieve the situation on the western
front, the TeuIOn strateg1cs have
had bitter disappointment. Austria
probably viii be unable TO lake up
4 A..
line for few days at least. In facG.
The Pisve front appears 10 be strong
er nov than at the beginning Of the
present battle. Operations on the
mountain front are sill at SSandsgIli
and If Emperor Charles still desires
10 push his offensive against Italy.
The next enemy attacks may come
from this front, unless the Italians
continue their advance eastward
from the Piave, Of which, however.
there are no indications at present.
Niles Ready For Hun Onrush.
Along the front from the North
Sea 10 Switzerland the allied armies
are awaiting another blow from the
Germans. Premier Lloyd George
has told the British House OF Com
moRs that another gigantic enemy
effort Is coming within a few days.
possibly within a few hours. The
Allies are ready 10 combat il.
British and French troops on the
Flanders battlefield have carried out
local operations successfully on the
plateau north Of lie Port, west Of
scissors. Along the Aisne. the
French have improved their positions
and captured l70 prisoners.
In a local effort in Belseau wood.
northwest OF Chateau Thierry. Ameri-
can troops have completed the
capture Of the wood by clearing the
Germans out Of the northwestern
portion. Some prisoners and ave
machine guns were taken.
Several Americans Taken.
In Alsace several Americans are
missing as a result Of enemy raids.
There is no confirmation Of the
Berlin official report that forty French
and American prisoners were cap
tured in a German raid near Badon-
viIler. on the Luneyille front.