The Wilson times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1896-19??, 1918-07-02
THE. LOSSES Of
THE. AuSTR|ANS
On the. Pave. Came. Cnnsterna.
ton in. the. Hungarian.
House Of DaputieA
STATEMENT OF PREMIER
(By Associated Press. J

lby A66QC1Ate0a ET0s0.
Amsterdam. June 30.-Dr. Alex.
ander Wekerle,. the. Hungarian Pre-.
mier, caused sensation in Parlia.
ment Saturday with the declaration
regarding the Austro- Hungarian
losses in the Last Italian offensive
according to Budapeat dispatch re-
ceived here today. The Premier
said that during the. last few days
exciting rumors were, being circulat:
ed regarding the losses. These ru-
mors, he dac1ared,. ~ere much ekag.
gerated. The Austro- Hungarian ar
mics were withdrawn on the Piave
front in order to spare lives, he de-
clared, since they must have sustain
ed very great LOSSES had. they held
that line.
but. how great are our losses?"
interrupted Deputy Zlinsky.
THE number of prisoners taken
was recently stated to be- $4,000"
the Premier replied. II must, how
ever, correct that statement. The
truth is that the Italians have taken
10000, while $4,000 Italians fell
into our hands. In the case of an Of
fensive and retreat this figure can
not be- termed excessively high.
Much sadder is, the loss we sui
fered in dead, wounded and sick,
mostly sick. In the tenth and elev-
enth Italian offens,ves we lost 80,-
900 to 100000 men. Now. however,
our losses are similar. about t00,-
men"
Great excitement In the chamber
marked this declaration. The Pre-
mier continued:
i" am obliged to record this
regrettable circumstances. It is true
that of three brigades thrown across
the Piave the uppermost unfortu-
natcly collapsed and then both Of
the others were carried away with
it. This figure includes the fallen.
the slightly wounded and those
brought back as inefrectfves."
A great uproar interrupted the
premier and there were cries of
They were all Hungarfans." When
quiet was restored, Premier Kekerle
continued:
II mention these figures in order
to describe the situation with per-
feet sincerity. Also, because our en-
emies will certainly portray these
losses in an exaggerated fashion and
perhaps also our public opinion.
There also are rumors circulat-
ing that on this occasion also Hun
garian troops were called upon in
excessively large numbers and that
the losses fell apon them only
Therefore, I must point out that
thirty-three Hungarian and thirty
seven Austrian regiments participat-
ed in the entire offensive and re-
treat, or forty-seven per cent Hunga-
rian and fifty-three Austrian.
"In the entire advance and retreat
the Italian losses Amounted to 150,-
900 far SURPRISING our losses in
dead, wounded and sick.
"A report also is being circulated
that our losses were due to a lack of
ammunition"
A deputy here shouted: Lack of
food"
The Premier replied to this by de-
claring that "our army never was so
we'll provided with ammunition as
during the middle of June"
1T is true" the Premier added,
that of three bridges across the Pi-
ave the uppermost unfortunately
collapsed and then both Of the 9TH
ers were carried away with it. Thus,
unsurm mountable difficulties arose in
bringing up provisions during the
Sc sational retreat which followed
according to the regular plan only
f,w troops who remained behind
who covered the retreat fell into
Italian hands. The entire retreat
was carried out in such an orderly
manner that the Italians continued
their attacks on our former posi-
tions.
"If, despite these fegretable events
I draw deductions from the whole It
Is not to he doubted that we inflict-
ed important losses on the Italians
and prevented them from sending q
considerable. part Of their troops to