Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-06-26
ITAl |ANS SWEPT
P|AVE CLEAR Of
TEUTON TROOPS
New Floods in River Saved Aus
trian Army From Capture or
Destruction; List Of Pris-
oners Grows.
KAISER IN PEACE PLEA
Admits He Cannot Win With
Sword Since America Has
Come Into War.
HUN FORCES DEPRESSED

A rsociated Press Summary Tssusf ~ D. N
Now that the Pisye line is again
intact, the Italians have begun opera
tions on the mountain front looking
to the further imDrO ve ment Of the
positions there. On the northwestern
slope Of Monte Grappa, between
the Brenta and the Piave, they have
taken considerable gro IND and cap
tured more than 300 Driso ners
Italian attacks on the mo untain
front probably are for the purpose of
fOrestafling any Intended e11er1v ef-
fort there, as well as To improve the
Italian positions. Strong raids are
being carried out sIso on the Asiago
plateau.
italians Cain Important Point.
The Italian gain on Monte Grappa.
however. IS most important as the
mountain is the key position b the
terrain between the Brenta and the
Piave and dominates the hills south
ward to the Venetian plain Il vas
on this height that the Austrians met
with failure in their attempts ten
days ago t0 reach the plain from the
north.
western bank Of the Piave the Italians
added 500 prisoners 70 the already
large numbers taken frOm the army.
While the sudden rise ~ the river
distressed the Austrians who had
crossed 10 the western bank. the
river fell during the enemy retreat
but again has risen. hampering the
Italian pursuit on the eastern bank.
a.
content To hoid the strong bridge
heads on the eastern bank rather
than to attempt TO pursue the enemy
any distance eastward.
Vienna officially places the Italian
losses at 100. 900. including 30 600 prIs
oners Ii acmlts rne retirement across
the Piave from Montelio 10 rhe AdrIa1lt
but lntimates the Italians did not pres:
the retiring AuStrians very closely. II
their efforts on the mountain. front. !.
is added. the Italians were repulsed com
pietely.
RAIDS on wrDE FRONT.
Raiding operations continue on th'
front from Switzerland 70 rhe sea. especial
Iy between Fpres and Rheims, wher'
further heavy lighting undoubtedly VII
take place. German soldiers are reported
as being depressed over the austrian
rout and it Is leld n some Entente
that Germany may make
strong effort almost immediately Lu oruel
to maintain German and Austrian morale
behind the lines.
The Germans mad expected 2 success
fm Austrian offensive galnst Iral.
thereby Fastening peace.
GERMAN HoFE FOR VICTORY s0sE.
Apparently Germany has gwen il
hope Of reaching decision IN The -eil
OF battle, Is the speech uI Foreign ~ecrt-
rary Won kuehimanu IS au Indication
He declared Deace must come tnrougl
. negotiation and said nat ,he ap
pearance on European fronts If soiaieC
from overseas had made tais necessary
He could give no idea OF when tle Ha.
would end His effort Was received coi0il
bv the ReIchStag
The official view in Washington va.
that the speech vas q peace move ans
that Germany now invites proposa-
from the Entente Il IS felt that 'n,
move is similar 70 others which nave ict
lowed German NJ Austrian failures 3.
bring a quick decision N tie field.
HUNS AUssIA INVASION UNCHECKED.
On the other hand Germany Sal
moves forward in her conquest IF Rus
sla. 1t IS reported that 5000 Gerual
froors have been Landed at P0ti. s. trans
Csucasian port on the Black Sea, ghict
has rail connections with the lmporJaa
cen;ers IF Tifis, Batum 5nd BaA4
Batun is a the hands Of the Turks
In Siberia. Csecho-SlovaA troops, Rh,
are in revolt against the BOisheyNl
are reported 70 have captured lrkut,N
u hich makes an advance Of 500 mile
from Tomsk. which they entered soua
6avs ago. Seemingly yhe Czecho-Slovak
are pushing rapidly toward NlAdlvostoi
m order 10 get out OF Russia s., thcl
forces arc hardly large enough q
combat the BolsheyikI for any lcngth
time.
AUSTRIA 8 rRoVHi ys
Baron Won SeydIer thc AIsyrai
premier has declined q continue 4
Office and form new cabinet y !
reported that Baron Rauhans, nmlsIe
of railways IN the Won Seydler cabinet
will receive tine appointment. The Aus
trian parliament was dissolved when th
economic situation became critical I
that country mavhe convoAcd. Il Z
believed. with a restricted program fo
ITS progresS
The food conditions ia Austria wcr
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