Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1918-06-29
VICTORY OF ITALY
DECISIVE BLOW
DEFEAT OF AUSTRlANS SO
CRUSHING THAT THEY ARE
STOPPED FOR WEEKS.
Germanys 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 1t
will be impossible for the enemy to
repeat his offensive on a 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 at the critical moment
to meet the clever strategy of the Ital4
ians.
So strongly is the Piaye line now
held by the Italians, say military
critics, that it will be impossible for
the disorganized enemy armies to re-
take it, 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
sions have been identified as being in
the battle.
Germany's entire offensive program
may have been upset, in the opinion of
some officers at Washington, by the
crushing defeat of the Austrians along
the Pave 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
blow that will further shake the mo-
rale of their people and probably will
compel the German high command to
make complete readjustment of its
plans in France.
Secretary Baker showed the signif-
icance attached here to the defeat of
the Austrians 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
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 Austrians. But the
Rome war office asserts it was the
impetus of the attack 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 thu Russians, to accept Teutonic
allied peace.
All along the river the Italians have
pressed back the invaders of their ter
ritory until only small units remain
on the western bank, and across the
stream King Victor Emmanuels men
are keeping well on the heels of the
retreating enemy, who is fleeing in dis
order.
The losses to the enemy are de,
scribed as enormous, both in men
killed, wounded or made prisoner. An
official statement from Rome to the
Italian embassy in Washington asserts
that the Austrians have lost 1000 rten
in prisoners alone.