The sun., 1918-11-05
100000 AUSTRIANS
TAKEN BY ITALIANS
Five Thousand Guns Among
Immense Booty Captured
From Enemy.

wAsHiNoroN, Nov At was an
nounced by the Italian War Once to-
day that 100000 prisoners and 5000
guns had been captured from tho Aus
tro-Hungarians up to the time the ar
nistice became effective. The Italian
offensive which proved so disastrous TO
the Austrians was started October "a.
Until the armistice became effective
the Austrians continued 10 flee In great
disorder toward their own frontier. leav-
Ing Immense stores of war supplies be-
hind. The Italians swept forward over
the entire front from the mountains TO
the sea, driving the enemy before them.
The Forty eighth British Division, oper-
ating with the Italians captured 10000
prisoners and several hundred guns.
OIL Italian Divisions Fought.
Fify-one Italian divisions participated
In the attacks which put the Austrian
armies TO rout. With these troops were
three British and two French divisions
and one American regiment, the SSith
Infantry. comprised OF Ohio troops under
the command Of Gen. Treat.
so hurried and d!sorderiy was the
flight Of the Austrians that practically
all Of their vast supplies OF war stores,
consisting OF food. clothing. ammunition
collected in large depots. were hur-
riedly abandoned. All these supplies fell
into the hands OF the Italians. The value
of the stores, according to the Italian
War Office estimates, will run into the
billions OF lire. (The lire is equivalent
To twenty cents.) The following state
ment from Rome was issued to-day by
the italian Embassy:
The war against Austria-Hungary,
which was conducted under the high
command OF his Majesty the King OF
Italy with an army inferior in numbers
and with still inferior means since May
"a, 1915, has come TO an end.
with unsuitable faith and indcmi-
table valor the Italian army waged q
continuous and hard war for period Of
forty-one months and won the stupen-
dous battle begun October 26, In which
were engaged in their entirely all the
resources OF the enemy.
Enemy Loses 5000 Guns.
80 far the enemy has left In our
hands 100000 prisoners and not less
than 5000 guns. The soldiers OF what
used to be one of the most powerful
armies in the world are fleeing in dis
order and without hope from the valleys
which they had invaded with truculent
confidence.
ION October 81. after having over
come on strongly fortified positions the
resistance OF powerful enemy rear guards
our troops, consisting OF fifty-one Italian
divisions. three British and two French
divisions. with Czecho-Slovak units and
an American regiment, put out OF com
hat sixty-three Austro-Hungarian divi-
sions.
'The rapid and most daring advance
of the Twenty-ninth Army Corps to the
| city OF Trentino, preeuding the retreat
| OF the defeated enemy troops, pressed
from the west by the Seventh Army
Corps and from the east by the First,
Sixth and Fourth Army Corps. deter
mined yesterday the complete crumbling
OF the Austrian front.
From the River Hrenta TO the sea the
| irresistible impetus OF the Twelfth. Tenth
/ and Eighth Army Corps pressed inexor-
/ ably the enemy retreating across the
plains The Duke OF Aosta Is advancing
| rapidly at The head OF his invincible
Third Army, anxious 10 return TO the old
positions which he had once heroically
conquered.
| The Austro-iungarian army In de-
stroyed. 1t suffered heavy losses in the
tenacious resistance during the first days
|
lost an enormous quantity Of material
and artillery.
an Albania our advance guards have
Occupied Scutart"
Tile great victory achieved by Italian
arms put an end to Austria as a belllg-
erent and cannot fall to be a decisive
element in bringing the war TO an end.
said Count " Macchi di Cellere, the
Italian Ambassador. to-day.
'rhe great italian victory" said the
Ambassador, puts an END to Austria
as a factor In the war and hastens the
moment when a Just and lasting peace
may be established In Europe. The
enemy has attempted to resist our vic.
torious armies with utmost vigor. II
has been only after their armies have
been defeated in the field and put In the
position OF either surrendering or being