The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-06-26
Retreat of Austrians Becomes
Disorderly Rout as Soldiers
Flee Under Italian Gun Fire

ITALIAN ARMY HEADQUARTERS
Tuesday. June 25.-Under the fire OF
Italian machine guns and artillery
which were brought up rapidly, the
Austrian withdrawal across the Piave
soon became disorderly rout. 1t is
estimated that Austrian losses total
more than 100000.
1t was terrible sight as the mad.
dened Austrtans fed under the deluge
OF Italian bullets and shells. They
leaped into the river and grabbed
pieces Of wood or anything that would
aid them: they tied themselves to
mules and horses, bat their efforts
were in vain, for as the enemy troops
reached the opposite bank, they were
again caught by the fire of Italian
guns which had been trained accurate
ly on the eastern bank for some days.
Slaughter Is Terrific.
On the Montello, the slaughter was
terrific. Bodies Of Austrian troops
were moved down almost in their
entirety. At the crossing at Nervesa,
both banks of the river were strewn
with dead and dying, while hundreds
Of bodies were carried down in the
current to the sea-
At one place, the correspondent
counted 800 bodies while walking
distance of half mile. One regiment
OF covering troops, which originally
was composed of more than 1000 men,
had left Monday but SO men to the
company, and they were prisoners.
Position Grows Worse
Along the lower Piave, the Austrians
found themselves, if possible, in a
worse position and sustained reavier
losses.
A single episode shows how and
why the retreat started. On Satur-
day the Austrian command sent the
9lst Schuetzen brigade composed of
regiments Nos. 81 and 80, with orders
to widen the Austrian breach at Lam
pol and to do this at all hazards. The
brigade attempted to carry out this
order and fought like wild men but
the Italian pressure was so terrific
that they were unable to accomplish
their object which was to succor the
Austrian divisions already surround
ed in this section
After six attacks, which continued
Saturday night and Sunday morning,
there remained at one o'clock Mon
day afternoon only 80 men of this
brigade. The others were either
prisoners, wounded or dead. The
officer then committed
suicide and the 80 surrendered.
Yesterday was the anniversary of |
he battle of Solferino in which the |
French and Italian armies defeated the !
Austrians So years ago. The victory
vas proudly emulated by the Italian |
army in the present fighting.
In fleeing the Austrians left behind
hem much war material The enemy
roops even threw away their rifles
md deserted hundreds Of machine
,uns which were to have been used to
protect thetretirement.
1t Is estimated that the number of |,
Austrians on the western bank of the
'iave when the retreat began was
ver 100000 This great number of
nen. however could do nothing
gainst the Italian pressure, despite
ontinuous counter-attacks.
The Italian official statement in the
ast week has frequently emphasized
he cruel losses inflicted on the Aus
rians Among sixteen prisoners TAX
n at one time on Montello. for in
tance it was observed they belonged
o no less than seven different regi-
nents. Prisoners report that serious
,sses were caused by the Italian ar
illery, trench bombs and machine