Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1918-11-08


German trains could go only as far as
Schnadau. At the same time all COM
munication was severed between
Agram and Fiume and Budapest and
Vienna, and the great seaport of FiumeI
was handed over to the Croatian ma
tional council
1t was no wonder that Count An
drassy, the Austro-Hungarian foreign
minister, was insistent on an armis-,
tice, for the armies of Emperor
Charles were having a very bad time
of 1t. The Italian front, comparative
ly quiet for many weeks, blazed out in,
great attack by the allies, and with
In a week the Austrians had been
driven back all the way between the
Brenta and Zenson bend. The Ital-
ians began the offensive and were
speedily aided by the British, French
and American contingents. The cross
ing of the Piaye by these enormous
forces was said to be a wonderful
sight. Sweeping irresistibly north
and east of the river, they drove a
great wedge into the enemy's lines
that speedily gave them possession Of
the big Austrian base of Vittoria.
Then the action became general along
the entire line. The British on the left
wing entered Asiago, and in the CEN
ter reached the Livenza river, and the
Italians occupied the city of OderZo.
Below the Zenson bend the Italiansl
forced a crossing of the Piaye and;
made swift progress on the plains that
! border the Gulf of Venice. Most start
ling of all was the news that between
the Piave anu 1he Brenta tie allies
had trapped 15 Austrian divisions
10000 men-by capturing the noun
tain pass of Vadal. At the time Of
writing the fate of these divisions was
unknown. Already the allies had
taken about $4,000 prisoners and great
stores of material. The announcement,
from Vienna, that Austria Hungary
was Withdrawing her troops from Italy
because of her desire for peace. sound
ed rather ridiculous. On Thursday the
Austrian commander asked General
Diaz for an armistice.
Ia
The week was almost as disastrous
for the Austrian forces in Serbia and
Montenegro. They were driven head
long northWNrd and before the end Of
the week the allies were on the DAN
ube opposite Hungarian territory and
had nearly reached their own city of
Belgrade. In Montenegro Jugo-Slav
units operated with the allies with
marked success. Budapest was re-
ported to be alarmed by the sugges-l
ton that the Jugo-S1avS would cross
the Croatian frontier and attack that
city in conjunction with the allies.
IA
The breaking up Of his empire and
the numerous and serious riots in
Vienna and elsewhere are said TO have,
so frightened Emperor Charles that he
has taken refuge in one of his castles
far from the capital and sent his chill
dren to another stronghold. Presuma-l
bly, he win still be permitted to remain
the ruler of Austria, for he is not per-
sonally unpopular, but what the future
has in store for him and his dynasty.
is uncertain,
BY desperate fighting the Germans
last week slowed up the advance of
the allies in Belgium and France, but
it cost them dear in casualties, for
Foch's artillery did tremendous exc
cution. In their resistance the Huns
were aided by the fact that the allies
needed time TO establish their COM
municat.ons between their bases and
their advanced lines. Moreover, they
did not give the enemy any real rest,
but kept hammering at him persistent-
ly, making valuable if not extensive
gains. The best of these were in the
region of yalenciennes, where the
British reached the borders of Normal
forest; in the Oise-Serre sector, where
the French forced the enemy back to
the gates of Guise despite violent re-
sistance; and on the Champagne front
and the Meuse valley. In the latter
region the Americans fought all week
long without let-up, the Second army
going into action in the Woevre. After
long and continuous fighting, the Yam
KEGS gained complete control of the
Bois Pelleu east of the Meuse and
held it against powerful counter-at-
taeks. West of the river there were
lively actions north of Grand Pre-.
The artillery of both Germans and
Americans was especially active all
week. The Yankees displayed a
marked superiority in this arm, and
their heavier guns, said to be 15-inch
naval guns on mobile mountings.
shelled Longuyon and other Hun bases
with decided effect