Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-06-24
rBy the Associated Press.l

lLdlldu ARMY glSdu4Gt&ttC1Ss SuAoesS
Night, June os.-The great retreat Of
the Austrians along the Piave began
under cover of darkness on Saturday
night. The retreating troops left their
cannon behind them:
The Italians are pursuing the enemy
east Of the Ptlve.
Austrian troops left to cover the re-
treat used their machine gums to set
up . sssszz--sssse a-e.
When it was observed the Austrians
had begun q retrogra1a movement,
the Italians began to attack virtually
ell along the Pave line from Montello
ION the north, well,toward the mouth OF
the river. The attack was quickly
pressed and was accompanied by vio-
lent artillery fire.
The number OF guns lc1t behind by
the Austrians as they retreated has
rot been computed, but 1t Is said to be
very great.
The work Of the American aviators
who appeared on the front last week
for the first time contributed notably
to the. disorganization CT the Austrian
forces which had crossed the sPiANe So
|vcording to, Rsrraeis, Carmel. corre-
spondent Of The Milan Secolo.
Sunday. From the Montello on the
left flank the attack was carried out
all along the l:,le thru Candelu to San
Dona do Piave.
River Floods Cripple Foe.
|. For several days the Austrian
forces which had won their way across
the Piave have been in perilous
situation because Of the sudden rising
of the river, which tore away most OF
the permanent bridges across the
Piave and destroyed nearly all Of the
pontoon bridges which they had ffung
across the stream.
Airmen Destroy Bridges.
Allied air,ne1. including Americans,
added to this destruction by bombing
the pontoons and, on the lower
reaches Of the rover. the italian naval
forces took hand the light gunboats-
and other small craft constantly
bombarding tae bridges within their
reach.
lines OF communication that corre-
spondents at the front said that for
some time the only means Of taking
supplies to- -he .Austrians on the west
| bank Of the liver was ny hydroplanes.
Pressed Closer to River. E
At the same time the italian land
forces were gradually beating back
! III Anstrians until they held only mar
row strips Of land ON tha west banks
OF the river.
They penned IN the invader and
poured on the hard pressed ranks the
concentrated Are Of their field artillery
and machine guns. "
The Austrian retreat which began in
an orderly manner soon became vide
| ly disorganized ! and confused. Many
thousands of Auatro- Hungarians sur
rendered at the first opportunity when
oveftaken.
Victory Greatest Of War.
An Italian stafr officer arriving from
the fighting zone on the Piave river, ex-
claimed as he ran into Italian head
quarters tonight:
Victory IL ours" We have put the
enemy across the Piave all the way"
The victory OF the Italian army il
considered by military officials to be
greater than that of the Austrians on
the Bainsizza last fall.
The Austrian retreat was made more
difficult by a severe thunder storm.
Ono Piavs Bridge Remains.
London. June 24.--All but one OF the
bridges left for the Austrian retreat
across the. Piave have been destroyed
by the italian artillery, according to
advices received here. It is added
enormous booty has been taken by the
Italians. IL
From the Nonyello 70 me Adriatic
the Austrians have been cleared from
the entire west bank Of the Piave ex-
cept for a small section near Musile
nearly opposite San Dona di Piave
where the struggle is continuing.
Reoceupy Old Positions.
! [By ths Associated Press.1
/ Rome, June 23,-Itaiians have
fcrossed the old channs; Of the PiaYe
river. west Of the main stream. and
rccaptured several Of their old pqsi-
tions there, according tcsemi- official
statements tontght.Y
l From Capo Siloe -bthnr attachments