The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-06-25
BECOMING A DEBACI.E
Even Personal Equipment
Of Soldiers Abandoned i'm
Flight of Austrians.
MEN FREELY SURRENDER
Retreat Which Began Under
Cover Of Darkness Turned
Into a Rout With DAY.

LONDON. June 24.--The Austrian rout
appears complete. Even after making
allowances on the side Of caution Il
seems safe to say that the Austro-
Hungarian forces arc near Il debacle.
The hordes with which Emperor
Charles hoped to invade Italy have
been turned back in panic. with the
Italians. wild with enthusiasm. In hot
pursuit.
All except scattering few OF the
Austrians who crossed the Piave have
either rstraced their steps or are in
the hands OF the Italians. prisoners.
The others in rank disorder are rc-
treating. with the Italians ho; on their
heels. hara assing them at every step,
Most significant. and to the Allies
most joyful. Of all the messages that
have come from the Italian front to-
day was an official message from the
Vienna War Office announcing the
evacuation of the Montello plateau and
the right bank of the Piavc River.
This is an admission of defeat
Equipment IL Aha ndon-d.
The Italian War Otfir" announces ne
capture of $1,000 prisoners and vast
quantities OF munitions OF every sort
big guns, machine guns food and
clothing. Thousands OF Austrian SOL
d!ers. in their pyecipitate retreat. tnr.,y
away their rifles and knapsscks: aban.
Lat
mad desire to get as far away from
there as possible.
The Austrian War Once puts me
blame for the misery ;lat has swept
down upon the army upon bad wcathe~,
and there is no gainsaH Ing TIA. the
foods. seemingly urovidential 10 Tho
Italians. had n loi 70 do with The rou:.
The Italian h.gh command. however.
gives credit TO The impetUous Italian
soldiers.
Every hour brings 'resh news OF 80
impetuosity Of the Italians. Bridges
have been thrown across the swollen
Pave. and over these Italian cayaliy
dashed 10 harass the retrea;iug AUS
TRANS.
Operating in close un!on with the cav.
airy are the flying men Italian. Brush
and American, who at al hou,s swoop
down on the dtsordered ranks " fleeing
Austr.ans to rake them vita machine
gun fire.
NJ Sian Of Renewal.
There is not the slightest sign to-nlsh,
that the enemy proposes renewa. OF
the offensive n the mountain region.
threats al "a 'S', haN. ,oan ,,,,,,,
it first became apparent that the a.
tackers along tne Pave were In for a
beating. Notwithstanding frequent re-
ports from Switzerland shat tie Aus-
TRANS were forwarding great quantities
OF munitions to the mountains in prepa.
ration FOR renewal OF the attack there
The view in military circles Tonight
is that the defeat OF the Aus,rians il So
crushing that il will be impossible fo-
the enemy TO repeat his offensive on a
serious scale for several weSs One cr
the causes FOR the Austrian disaster /.
said to have been faulty judgment il
placing their reserves, hy which they
failed 10 be brought up a. a critical mo-
ment to meet the clever strategy OF the
Italians
So strongly is the Pave lire now held
by the Italians. say military critics. tina;
ii will be Impossible for the disorsan-
lied enemy armies to retake II. and there
is not the slightest fear that they again
will try to cross the river. 1t is said
they staked everything on this often
sive and threw all their forces into ii.
Thirty seven divisions have been idsn-
titled az being in the battle.
nmrlnl ~ n->..ss~-.
The Official reports OF the situation
follow:
lTALIAN--YeSterday gave us TN.
orownng results OF victory. Pushed
up against the bank OF the Piave in
strip of ground ever becoming mar
rover. bombarded without pause by
our artillery and airplanes. the enemy,
after having maintained himself des-
pcrately for eight days at the price OF
enormous sacrifices on the right bank
Of the river. began on the night o'
June 2.-2S his withdrawal to the left
bank OF the river.
The crossing OF the river under the
deadly fire of our artillery continued
YESTERDAY. protected by a strong array
OF machine guns and covering troops
which, after stubborn resistance. We're
successfully driven back. with our
troops at their heels.
The Montel!o and all the right barb
Of the PiaNe. with the exception or
small portion OF the bank at Musile
where the struggle is continuing. have
returned into our hands. SO far more
than 1000 prisoners have been
counted
\ grea, quantity Of arms and ma
,eral Of all kinds has fallen into our
hands, An extraordinary number 81
Austrian dead covers the ground OF
thr struggle This proves the urfor-
,unaie valor and the great defeat OF
the enemy,
NSTRIA>--A position has arisen
h, rearon o. the height Of the water
a"d lad weather rhch has caused
Us to evacuate Montello and some sec.