The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-11-07
RETREAT
IN ITALY SCENE
OF DESTRUCTION
Horror Of Napoleon's Re-
treat From Russia Trifling
Compared With Those Of
Austrian Disaster.
WITH THE ITALIAN ARMY AZ

WITH lf1E ALLAN AIM "a 1
TRENT WEDNESDAY, Nov. g.
Amidst rejoicings of this redeemed
city scenes of destruction and starva
ton are common as one passes over
the roads over which the Italian troops
are trying to pass the thousands OF
Austrian prisoners, who were cut Of
by the Italians southwest of Belsano
Every road leading up to this city is
crowded with men and on every hand
there is evidence of the collapse OF
Europe's mightiest armies.
The horrors of Napoleon's retreat
from Russia, it is said by military OBJ
servers, were trifling compared with
the sufferings of the Austrian troops
in this region. Great ma sses of men
wait for long hours to move few feet
or few hundred yards to halt anew
on a road Uttered with the carcasses
shields, pistols, rifles, broken down
auto trucks and machines.
There is no swearing among these
men. There are even moments of pro-
found quiet broken by snatches of
songs. Italian soldiers seem positive
ly sorry that the end of the war is ap-
preaching. They say: whats a few
months more, now that we are sure of
victory?"
Many Austrians are dying from
sheer fatigue and starvation, and not
wounds. The Italians are doing all
they can to hurry up food supplies.
This is difficult and In the meantime
dead horses are eaten, the flesh be-
ing cooked by the roadside by fires
kindled by the soldiers.
Large bodies of Austrians are help
less. The correspondent passed be-
tween Roverto and Trent, distance
of sixteen miles, an unending column
of men marching none knew whittier.
They asked orders from an officer
who was with the correspondent.
When asked If they knew about the
armistice they said: 1--WE want food.
Food is the only thing. We are indif-
ferent to war and peace and death
everything but food"
Strange tales are told of the ex-
ploits of Italian prisoners returning
home. Above Trent, a group of Ital-
ian prisoners broke out and ordered
the chauffeur of truck to drive them
to the Italian lines and the man obey
ed. Another Italian prisoner, mounted
on horseback, at the head of a regi-
ment of Austrians, announced smiling
ly: These are my captives."
1t is estimated that nine Austrian
divisions were taken with their staffs.
Thirty-nine divisions were partly dis
organized and fifteen, although in bad
condition, are retreating from the ad-
vancing Italians. These troops, while
equipped for their retreat, are without
orders and go traevling here and there
like droves of sheep. 1t is common
officers, the latter having been order
ed to go separately to the concentra-
ton camps.
Face Food Problem.
The correspondent saw at Pergire
the general of the sixth Austrian di-
vision, motoring along in his own car
He said he was going home. having
been given special permission In the
meantime his troops have been aban-
doned.
The Italian. officer with the cores
pondent told what he considered
beautiful story. Another officer left
his motor car in a little garden over
night and two Austrians nearby were
ordered to watch it. They responded
in the officers own Venetian dialect
The Italian embraced them crying:
"You are from my country. Italians
do not make imperialistic war"
Returning to the lower levels of the
by way of the Asiago pla-
teau, the correspondent saw further
evidence of the devastation of war
There is not house left standing in
the town of Asiago. There also is
much suffering among the people
the mountains, who are
foodless and have been robbed of their
possessions. BY a miracle, the rigor-
GUS Alpine winter has not yet set in
and the people say: These ravages
are necessary. They remain glorious
memories Of our salvation
The problem of feeding the multi
tude Of prisoners is grave but the
Italians are making super human ef-
tort. They also are treating the pris-
oners as well as possible. 1t is COM
mon to see hardy Italian troops gen.
arously toss their own bread rations to
the Austrians, saying laughingly: ITO
morrow is another day. We will eat
then"
SPANISH CABINET RESIGNS.