Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1918-06-28
VICTORY OF ITALY
DECISIVE BLOW
DEFEAT or AUsTRlANs so
CRUSHING THAT THEY ARE
STOPPED FOR WEEKS.
cermany's Whole Plan Of offense on
the West Front Likely to Be
Smashed to Pieces as Result
of Rout of Austrians.

London.-The view In military cir
cles Tuesday night was that the defeat
Of the Austrians Is so crushing that IL
will be impossible for the enemy to
repeat his offensive on serious scale
for several weeks. One of the causes
for the Austrian disaster is said to
have been faulty judgment In placing
their reserves, by which they failed to
be brought up ut the critical moment
to meet the clever strategy Of the Ital-
lans.
So strongly is the Plave line now
held by the Italians, say military
critics, that 1t will be impossible for
the disorganized enemy armies to re-
take 1t, and there is not the slightest
fear that they again will try to cross
the river. 1t is said they staked every
thing on this offensive and threw all
their forces into it, Thirty-seven divi-
slons have been identified as being in
the battle.
Germanys entire offensive program
may have been upset, In the opinion Of
some officers at Washington, by the
crushing defeat of the Austrians along
the Piave river.
Official reports reaching Washing
ton bear out the picture of the Austrian
disaster given In press accounts from
Italy, although the full extent of the
Italian success is not yet apparent. 1t
Is regarded as certain, however that
the central powers have been dealt a
blow that will further shake the mo-
rale of their people and probably will
compel the German high command to
make a complete readjustment Of its
plans in France.
Secretary Baker showed the signif-
icance attached here to the defeat of
the Austrlans when he dis atched a
congratulatory telegram TO the Ameri-
can ambassador at Rome for transmits
sion to the Italian minister of war.
The defeat of the Austrian armies
on the western bank of the Piave
river Is complete. Admission is made
by the Austrian war office that the
troops of Emperor Charles have been
forced to evacuate the MontellO plat.
eau, over which they had hoped to
press their way and gain the Venetian
plains and "some sectors of the posi-
tons they attained last week on the
bank of the river between the plateau
and the point where the stream
emptles into the Adriatic.
Bad weather and the rising of the
Piave under the heavy rainfalls are
assigned as the reasons for the with
drawal of the Austrlans. But the
Rome war office asserts 1t was thu
impetus of the attack of the Italians
that brought about the failure of al
operation which was started with thu
intention of crushing the armies o.
General Diaz and forcing the Italians
like the Russians, to accept TeutOnit
allied neace.
All hlong the river the Italians have
pressed back the invaders of their ter
ritory until only small units remain
on the western bank. and across tn
stream King Victor Emmanuel's mel
are keeping well on the heels of tn
retreating enemy, who Is fleeing in dis
order.
The losses to the enemy are de
scribed AS enormous, both in mel
killed, wounded or made prisoner. Al
official statement from Rome to tn
italian embassy In Washington assert
that the Austrians have lost $4,000 me-
In prisoners alone