The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1918-06-29
Austria $ Disastrous Defeat


blow. All things worked together for the defeat of the Ans.i.Nna
fensive, just at the time when Berlin and Vienna counted on =
.cion which would drive despair like a knife into the hearts q !.
Allies.
Checked in France, and confronted With the necessity Of mali
preparations for a new offensive, the Germans looked to the fu.u,oo
with some anxiety. They saw Americas might accumulahno !.
formidable proportions. The U-boats were hopelessly out Of a..
running, and there was no way left to stop the convoy of our troons
in increasing numbers across the ocean. They felt that thew ma
keep allied arms engaged and win a decision which would Offset n.
strength which the United States was adding to the entente cause II
France.
They believed that they were about to strike a blow which vonLa
achieve this result. They had kept the Austrian offensive in -
serve until there own driving power in France had begun to wsp
And they were confident of Austrian success. Through the aid ~
German arms, the Austrians had obtained a favorable strategic noS-
ton. They were armed with thousands of cannon, many of then
captured from the Italians last year. Their army had done lula
fighting since last Fall, and, although its morale was not of the best
it was perfectly equipped and furnished with all the necessary means
of attack, including a copious supply of poison gases and smoke
bombs. which have proved SO effective in beginning attacks this
year.
Berlin counted on victory. but felt sure that defeat was out Of
the question. At worst the Austrians could simply be held in
check. after making substantial gains.
The most important position to be taken was Monte Cram.
the tremendous barrier guarding the approaches to the vital Italian
positions in the plains. And it was in this region that the enemv
made his first and strongest attacks. He tried to force his wsy
around either side of the mountain-to the west of it by assailpg
the British, and to the east by overrunning the Montelo plateau
The British held their positions in the mountains, and the Italians
%stubbornly contested every mile OF advance on the Montelo plateau.
The second phase of the battle was the crossing of the lower reaches
" vuo L ave TNoT, Wuu0 tno DatLl0 on n plateau WaQ0O with mn
remitting ferceness.
From the beginning. things had gone badly with the invaders.
The Italians had quickly sensed the general offensive, and had
turned all their guns upon the enemys troop concentrations across
the Piave. AT the outset, therefore, the storm troops were cut up
and somewhat demoralzed. Nevertheless, they gained much
ground on the plateau near the sources of the Piave, and they
crossed the river on a fheen-mile front. But as events shaped
themselves, their crossing of the river was disastrous to themselves
At no point did they get more than four or five miles from the river
and the average was about two miles. Everywhere they met the
strongest resistance, and their losses we're excessive.
But the turning point In the battle came when a higher power
INTERVIEWED The melting SHOWS in the mountains suddenly trans.
formed the Piave stream into a mighty torrent. Many Austrian
bridges were swept away, and others were subjected to attacks from
the air, the allied aviators having gained the ascendancy as the bat.
tie started.
The situation which confronted the Austrian staff must have
stricken terror to their hearts. At the crucial stage of the fight
when 1T was essential to get munitions and supplies across the river
IN everlncreasing quantities, the means Of communication were de-
stroyed. On the west side of the river were several hundred thous-
and Austrian soldiers and hundreds of guns marooned and threat
ened with disaster, unless supplies could be brought up.
For several days the Arstrians made gigantic efforts to repair
their bridges and to keep the advance troops supplied, but the tor
rental river swept away their bridges and made the use Of boats
Ineffective The emperor and his generals, we can imagine. sat
round their tables at headquarters with blanched faces, considering
what was to be done. 1t was plain that the further invasion of Italy
was a hopeless task. The only question now was how to save the
army on the west side of the Piave. Either supplies must be got
to the army or it must be made to recross the river. In view OF the
destruction of most of the bridges, there could be no hope OF saving
the artillery. The best that could be hoped for was that most OF
the army could be saved from capture. 1t was decided that q show
OF fight should be made during the day, and that after dark the re-
treat should begin and should continue with all possible rapidly
As they conferred, the emperor and his chieftans must have re-
verified in imagination to the terrible battle of Austerhtz, which
forced Austria to sign peace with Napoleon in 1906. At that time
a similar situation presented itself. The Austrians and Russians,
under their respective emperors. had crossed the fords of the Gold.
bach and had compelled the French right to retire but this had