The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-06-29

Paris, June GA dispatch received
here from Rome states that the italian
and British forces on the north noun
tain front in the region Of the Asiago
plateau have begun series Of strong
cOunter-attacks against the Austrians
and at latest accounts had penetrated
and captured the whole first line of the
enemy's defense.
Austrian Loss 100000.
Paris, June 26.-The Secolo Of Milan
now estimates the losses Of the Aus
TRANS at 100000 men. The rout Of the
enemy is complete, says a dispatch
from Turin to the Matin. Some Aus
trian divisions lost from go to 70 per
cent Of their men.
Foe In Wild Disorder.
Geneva, June 26.-Itallan and Brit
ish artillery continue to exact a ter
rife toll of dead and wounded from
the Austrian main body struggling in
the widest disorder across the Piave
river and beyond, says dispatch from
the italian front received here.
The Austrians are feverishly rush
ing reserves in the breach between
Montello and the Adriatic to prevent
their defeat from becoming gigan-
tic disaster
Hundreds of Austrians drowned at
tempting to cross the swollen Piave.
Says Two Armies Trapped.
London, June 26.-"The troops of
Archduke Joseph and General Wurm
have been surrounded and must sur
render or they will be annihilated,"
| the correspondent of the Giornale
| DItalia wired from the front, accord
ing to an Exchange Telegraph dispatch
| from Rome.
Earlier reports received had empha-
sized the crushing manner In which
the Austrians have been defeated. The
magnitude of the Italians victory
grows more apparent with every fresh
report. The Austrian retreat has been
turned into virtually debacle.
italian cavalry that crossed to the
eastern bank of the Piave has pursued
the retreatlng Austrians mercilessly.
! italian infantry divisions pressed on
close behind the cavalry, and the fee
ing Austrians were given no chance
to reassemble their forces.
Thousands of Foe Killed.
Thousands of Austrians have been
killed In their retreat. The Italians
have advanced over ground literally
covered with bodies of Austrian sol
diers. The Italians have rushed horse
artillery forward at great speed and
the big guns have played havoc In the
ranks of the Austrians.
The latest report Of the number of
prisoners taken by the Italians was an
unofficial dispatch from Rome which
stated that the prisoners now totaled
| $4,000. The last war office announce
ment said the prisoners totaled 1900,
but officials pointed out that this re-
ferred to Sundays operations and that
! the Italians have achieved their big.
gest success since that time.
Italians Bridge Plave.
London, June 26.-Pursuit, capture
and slaughter Of the routed Austrian
armies along the Pave continues.
Italian engineers have thrown
bridges across the flooded river In the
major sectors, over which Italian cav.
airy is pouring in force, harassing the
fleeing enemy.
All of the Montello plateau In the
north is in Italian hands and the Aus
TRANS have been cleared away from
| the west bank of the Piave everywhere
| from the mountains to the sea, except
on narrow front at Musile. on the
lower reaches of the river. Fierce
rear guard actions are In progress
| there.
A Central News dispatch from Rome
says that the Italians have takeL
$4,000 prisoners. The enemy's loss ir
guns and materials of all kinds is tire
mendous.
Austrian bodies are piled high ali
along the west bank of the river and
are being swept to the sea by the
floods. Dispatches indicate that the
Austrians, at best, had only si1
bridges available for their withdrawal
across the river. These were under
continuous fire from italian artillery
and allied airplanes. This cruel fire
started the panic which turned the
confused retreat into utter rout.
In less than three months the
Brotherhood of Railway Car Men has
enlarged its rolls on the $500 Line
railroad from 40 to 900 members.