The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1918-07-11
Italians Convert the Austrian
Drive into a Defeat and a
Disastrous Rout.
enemy LOSSES ARE 100000
Germans Are Ready to Resume often.
sive on West Front, but Allies Conf.
dent-Von kuehImann's Peace Talk
a Flzzle-Baker Asks ~Postponement
Of Draft Limit Change.
BY EDWARD w. PIckARD.

BY EDWARD w. PICkARD.
The grand offensive of the Austriuns
IN Italy, a failure almost from the
start. developed into q defeat, and
hen suddenly into a disastrous rout
last week. The hungry armies of En-
pcror Charles, unable to advance
against the gallant Italians and their
allies, took advantage of the sudden
subsistence of the flood in the Pave
to retreat under cover of darkness, but
the dawn of Sunday revealed their
movements and General DiaZ struck
swiftly. From the Montello to the sea
the Italian artillery poured q murder
Gus fire into the throngs of Austrians
VINO, abandoning their guns, were try
Ing to get across the river. Then the
infantry, and even the cavalry men,
were called into action and speedily
completed the rout. The Pinve was
almost chokcd with the enemy's dead.
Within two days the Austrians had
not only lost all the ground they
gained in their first rush, but had
been driven entirely across the river
to and In Some cases beyond their for
mer lines. Their losses were con-
servativelS estimated at $4,000 in
killed, won AIDED and prisoners. In adj
dition the Italians captured great num-
bers of guns and quantities Of NUM-
tons and equipment.
The Austrian rear guards fought
most ~Stubbornly at the Monticello and
Mt the cnson bend, those ut the latter
place protecting the two remaining
permanent bridges between there and
the mouth Of the river. The enemy
suffered severely frolh the work of
the allied air forces and in this the
new American nviators were con-
%spicuous.
All Italy celebrated the great vic
tory and the overenthusiastic, there
as elsewhere, expected the Italian
army to follow 1t up by driving the
AuStrianS out of the country. But
General DiaZ is toe wise to fall into q
trap similar to the one that caught
the enemy. Tic .Austrians have been
there long enough to have organized a
very strong defensive line, and more.
over, the Germans were rushing troops
to their support all last week. Dia2
did not fail to follow up his advan.
tage in the mountain region, however
for 1t Is there that lhe next attack Is
expected. His troops improved thell
positions very considerably, especial
~ at Monte Grappa, the height that
is the key to the passage down to the
plains between the Brenta md the
Pinye.
pa
The crushing defeat Of the Aus
TRANS had an enormous moral effec'
In all the belligerent countries. The
news caused n profound depression ir
Austria and Germany that wa
contrasted by the jubilation In the al
lied nations. italy said that all /
now asks Is the presence Of Ameri
can troops on Its front, and these
presumably, are on the way II no
already there.
In the dual monarchy the disastc
on the Piave only accentuated TIT
serious internal conditions, furthe
encouraging the rebellious Czechs ant
Slovaks and Slavs, and increasing tn
general demand for food and peace
The government has neither the on,
"ol tHe othei I'D olleT, loi oo'' ar
; under the control Of Germany. Tn
spirit OF revolution is rife in Austria
Hungary, but a note OF warning l
sounded by French statesmen, who dc
; tlafe thot the allies must not Oun OF
I The success or q rebellion there. Tn
I 1isaffected peoples are separate an
without competent leadership an
Austna's allies could easily lend tn