South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-07-01
WEKERLE ADMITS
AUSTRIAN LOSS
He Causes Sensation in House
of Parliament, According
to Budapest Paper.

AMSTERDAM. July I-Dr Al
eXander Wekerle. the Hungarian
minister. caused a sensa ton IN par
lament Saturday with a decIara-
tion regarding the Austro-Hung8t
ian losses in the last Italian onons-
i've. according 10 Budapest dis
patch received here today. The
premier said that during the lass
few dsys exciting rumors were be-
ing circulated regarding the losses.
These rumors he declared. were
much exaggerated. The Austro-
Hungarian armies were withdrawn
on the Pmve front in order 90 sDa-s
their lives. ne declared. since they
must have sustained very great loss
es had they held that line.
But how great are our losses
interrupted Deputy Ziuuski
The number OF prisoners "a en-
was recently stated TO be $1,000
the premier replied. Il must. how
ever, correct that statement. T1e
truth is that the Italians have taken
10000. while 10000 Italians f.Il
into our hands. I'm the case Of ana
offensive and a retreat this nglra
cannot be termed excessively high.
Much sadder Is the loss We suffered
in dead, wounded and sick: mostly
sick. In the 10Th and 18th Italian
offensives we lost 5000 10 100 600
men. Now. however. our losses ara
similar. about 100000 men
Excitement i'm Chamber.
Great excitement I'm the chamber
marked this declaration. The pre-
mier continued.
IT am obliged 10 record this re-
grettable circumstance. j. is true
that OF three bridges thrown across
the Piave the uppermost unfortu-
nately 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 ineffectives."
A great uproar interrupted the
premier and there were cries &C
They were all Hungarians" When
quiet was restored, Premier Wekerle
continued:
I mention these figures i'm order
TO describe the situation with per-
feet sincerity. Also because our en-
emies viii certainly portray these
losses in an eXa ggerated fashion and
perhaps also our public opinion.
There also are rumors circulating
that on this occasion also Hungar-
ian troops were called upon in ex-
cessively large mum bers and that the
losses fell upon them only.
There, / must point out that g
Trrv sFs.a
ments participated in the entire Of
fensive and retreat or a. per cent
Hungarian and 90 Austrian.
In the entire advance and re-
treat the Italian losses amounted "a
10000 far surprising our losses
in dead wounded and sick.
"A report also is being circulated
that our losses were due 70 a lack
Of ammunition"
Lack OF Food Cry.
\ deputy here shouted: Lack 4
food"
The premier replied to THIS by de-
claring that Our army never was
so well provided with ammunition
as during the middle Of June"
1T is true" the premier added,
across the Piave. the uppermost coli
lapsed, then both or the others
were carried away with IT, Thus
unsurmountable difficulties arose on
bringing up provisions during the
sensational retreat, which was fol-
lowed according 20 the regular plan
and only a few troops who remain
ed behind who covered the retreat
fell into Italian hands The entire
retreat was carried out in such an
orderly and unobserved manner
that the Italians continued their at
tacks on our former positions.
IF despite heste regretta BILE
events, 7 draw deductions from the
whole. 10 is not 10 be doubted that
we inflicted important losses on the
Italians and prevented them from
sending a considerable part Of their
troops 20 the west front. which in
the interest Of the common conduct
of the war is undoubtedly the OBJ
jective which IL was our duty 20 OBJ
tain. This aim, too, We attained