Arizona republican., 1918-06-25
AUSTRIA ADMITS II
 |S DEFEATED UPON
 BANKS OF THE PAVE
Associated Press War Review)


 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 forced t. evacuate the Montello plateau, over which they had hoped to press their way and gain the Venetian plains, anG 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.
 BIames It On the Weather
 Bad weather and the rising of tho Piave under the heavy rainfalls are assigned as the reasons for the with drawal of the Austrians. But the Rome war office asserts that it 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 Russians, to accept Teutonic allied peace.
 Enemy Flee In Disorder l All along the river the Italians have pressed back the invaders of theh territory until onfy 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. Again the cavalry has been thrown into the fighting and is harassing the enemy, while machine guns from the ground and from air craft. some of the latter operated by American aviators, are working havoc i among the fleeing Austrian columns.
 Enemy Losses Enormous
 The losses of the enemy are de scribed as enormous, both in me1 killed, wounded or made prisoners An official statement from Rome to the Italian embassy in Washington asserts that the Austriars have lost 45,00L men in prisoners alone. The Italian war office communication mentions 4,O00 Austrians as having been cap tured, but it is probable that this con- munication antedated that sent to the embassy and that the captives in the hands of the Italians greatly eXceeo this figure.
 Shot Or Swim, Alternatives
 The probability that this is true is enhanced by the fact that the river was swollen out of bounds and most of the few bridges that had not been carried away by the freshet had been shot to pieces by the Italian guns compelling the enemy either to sur render or take his chances of being able to swim the turbulent stream So hurried was the retrograde move ment of the Austrians at some points that they did not take time even to attempt to save their guns and stores great quantities of which now are il Italian hands. Next Try Above Water | As yet there has been no sign that the enemy purposes again to renew al an early date another offensive in tht mountain region, notwithstanding tn, fact that reports emanating iron Switzerland have said that he wa. bringing up large endorsements ant great quantities of supplies along tn, | front behind the lines from the Swis. border to the upper reaches of tn, Piave.
 | German Drive Expected
 That another great offensive is ex' pected-and at any moment-has bee, made known by David Lloyd George the British premier, to the house O commons. Where it is to come wa; not stated. but 1t was asserted that ol the blow the issue of the campaign | might depend. Hopefulness was ex pressed in the statement that the en tente allies never felt better prepare, l to meet it.
 Il American Achievements II Enough Americans have arrived t satisfy the allies and to disappoint an, ultimately defeat our foes,' the pre- Il mier said.
 Il On the front in France and F1ander
 the operations cortinue of mino character. The Italians again have de
 feated the Germans near Bligny in tn
 Marne sector, inflicting heavy casual
 ties on them, and taking a number O II prisoners.
 II Americans Clear Woods II In the same region the Americans a ] Continued on page Twol