The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1918-06-27
DEFEAT OF AUSTRIANS
GROWS MORE COMPLETE

on the western banks of the Piave
River is complete. Admission is made
by the Austrian war Office that the
troops of Emperor Karl have been
forced to evacuate the Montello pla-
teau, over which they had hoped to
press their way and gain the Vene-
tian plains, and "some sectors" of the
positions they attained last week on
the bank of the river between the
plateau and the point where the
stream empties into the Adriatic. Bad
weather and the rising Of the Piave
under the heavy rains are assigned
as the reasons for the withdrawal of
the Austrians. But the Rome war Of
flee asserts that is was the impetuous
attacks of the Italians that brought
about the failure of an operation
which was started with the intention
of crushing the armies of General
Diaz and forcing the Italians, like the
peace.
All along the river the Italians
have pressed back the invaders of
their territory until only small units
| remain on the western bank, and
across the stream King Victor EN-
manuePs men are keeping well on the
heels of the retreating enemy, who
is fleeing in disorder. Again the cav
| airy has been thrown into the fight
| ing and is sorely harassing the enc
uhIln nchinn l.,
ground and from aircraft, some OF
the latter operated by American avia.
tors, are working havoc among the
fleeing Austrian columns.
Heavy Austrian Losses.
The losses to the enemy are de
5cribed as enormous both in mer
killed, wounded or made prisoner. Al
official statement from Rome to tn,
Italian embassy in Washington as
serts that the Austrians have lost as,
600 men in prisoners alone. TIL,
Italian war Office communication men
lions only 10000 Austrians as hav
ing been captured but it is probabl,
hat this communication antedateC
hat sent to the embassy and that tn,
captives in the hands of the Italians
greatly exceeded this figure.
| The probability that this is tru,
s enhanced by the fact that the riv
er was swollen out of bounds an,
most of the few bridges that ha,
not been carried away by the freshe
nad been shot to pieces by the Italiar
guns, compelling the enemy either tc
| iurrnder or take his chances of be
ng able to swim the turbulent
| stream.
So hurried was the retreat of the
Austrians at some points they did not
lake time even to attempt to save
heir guns and stores, great uuan.
itics of which now are in italian
hands
May Try in Mountains.
AS yet there has been no sign that
he enemy purposes again to renew
It an early date another offensive ir
The mountain region, Notwithstanding
he fact that reports emanating from
switzerland have said that he was
bringing up large reinforcements anC
great quantities of supplies along tn,
front behind the lines from the Swis.
border to the upper reaches of tn,
Piave River
That another offensive is expected
and at any time--has been made
inown by David Lloyd George, the
British premier to the house of com
mons. Where it is to come was no,
stated, but it was asserted that on the
blow the issue of the campaign might
depend.
On the front in France and Elan
| iers the operations continue of ;
| MINOR character. The Italians agair
| have defeated the Germans nea,
Hligny in the Marne sector, inflictin.
heavy casualties on them and takin,
number of prisoners
| In the same region the American
1t last have succeeded in clearing tn,
Belleau Wood, north of Chateau
! lhlerry, of the Germans who hat
been clinging stubbornly to position
"hich were regarded as almost i'm
Dregnablc. Prisoners were taken ant
i've machine guns were captured b,
| the Americans. The German officia
communication asserts that trenchc
near Baderviller occupied by Frencl
| md American troops have been in
vaded by theGermans who inflicted
heavy losses on the defenders. Their,
$ no confirmation of this.