The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1918-06-26


his, victorious army the rcpulsc of the
AuSTians. General Diax, the Italian
commander in chief, says The fighting
for the present is confined to local ac-
tons. He calls upon the army to
prepare for new trials. In an order
Of the day to his officers and men
General DiaZ says
"rhc enemy who, with furious i'm
pctuosity, used all means to penc-
trate our territory has been repulsed
at all points. His losses are very
heavy. His pride is broken. Glory
to all commands, all soldiers, all
sailors.
"rhc country understood at once
that the barrie" set up by our heroes
was unshakable and that your
strength is the Durcst of immortal
Nigor. Our people and our allies,
who have so many glorious repre-
scntativcs amonst us, applaud our
success against the eternal enemy.
THE great battle is. for the time
being, reduced to local actions.
"Thc army has deserved we'll Of
the country We are sure Of our right
and of the holiness Of tho cause we
arc defending. New trials which un-
douttcdly await us will again show
the enemy that Italy has lost none Of
her faith. strength and abncgation.
For Italy. for king, for civiliza-
ton, Let us Dcrsoverc in our sacred
duty
AuStria's armies again arc beyond
the PiaVe and the river line once more
bars the enemy from the Venetian
plain. The crushed Austrian forces
not only were pursued to the river
but the Italians at points have occu-
pied strong bridgchcads on the eastern
bank.
How thorough the italian victory
has been is not yet yet clear as every
hQeT brings reports Of increasing Aus
TITAN losses. Many thousands Of the
invaders were killed in their attempt
to regain the eastern bank Of the river
and the latest announcement from
General Diaz places the number of
prisoners alone at 10000. One report
places the Austrian casualties at 200.-
600 mon. In addition the enemy lost
large stores of munitions and sup
plies and many guns.
Apparently the sudden torrent in
bo ul,; OH ,,1n
+, Austrian communications fell as
quickly as it rose and the river bed
was dry when the Austrian retreat
began. This enabled the enemy to
wise his losses would have been meas
urably greater.
Vienna blames the weather and the
''"h water In the river for the retire
italian resistance which held the enc
my on the western bank and was
gradually forcing him back 10 the riv
-. It says the order to withdraw was
g!vTA Thursday and leaves the i'm
PRESTON that the retreat was carried
out unobservcd by the italians.
1t has been reported that Baron
Burian. the Austro-Hungarian for
.eign minister, told the German COM
mander that grave events, possibly
revolution, would follow in the dual
monarchy II an Austrian attack
which Germany insisted upon. was
repulsed. There have been no reports
that the disorders and unrest within
the Hapsburg empire have ccascd.
In fact late news dispatches give
scanty intelligence as to the state Of
affairs in Austria.
II the Austrian offensive was eX-
pectcd by the German command to
relieve the situation on the western
front the Teuton strategists have
had bitter disappointment. Austria
probably will be unable to take up
a new forward movement on the
Plave limo for few days at least.
In fact, the Piavc front appears to
be stronger now than at the begin
ming Of the present battle. Opera
Z tions on the mountain front are still
& ~ 4 ~-n'','%,,i II = l,'.inr,-, ~ ~