The Sentinel=record., 1918-06-26
Rising of the River Piave
Stops the Italians From
Administering Crushing
Defeat.
Italians Have Turned on the Austrians
in the Mountain Regions and Are
Attacking the Enemy on Various
Sectors and IHave Inflicted Heavy
Casualties and Taken Many Prisoners

New York. June 25.-The Italians
at last have cleared the Austrian rear
guards from the west bank o. the
Piave river and now are in posses
sion of the entire river front from
Montello to the sea. AT last accounts
their forces which crossed the stream
in pursuit of fleeing Austrians were
still harrassing them inflictins heavy
casualties and forcing the enemy to
continue his disorderiy retreat
Fate, however, has turned its bal
ance in the Austrians' favor for the
Piave river has risen and some of the
pontoon bridges the Italians nau
thrown across the stream nave been
carried away, making impossible
quick pursuit and crushing of the
Austrians, which General Diaz had
counted upon. The Austrians are de
elared to be rushing up reserves from
the east in an endeavor partly to re-
trieYe the situation
The Austrian war office admits a
reverse along the piaye but aunounc-
es that the retrograde movement has
Ueen carrid out in accordance with
plans and without loss of material
1t is added that the Austrians have
taken more than 5000 prisoners
from the Italians since June Is and
that the aggregate losses of the ltal-
ians in the fighting at the lowest es-
innate is 10000
Holding the upper hand from the
borders of the Venetian plains the
Italians have turned on the offensive
against the enemy in the mountain
region and are attacking on various
sectors. Notable gains of ground have
been made and in addition to the
heavy casualties inflicted on the enc
my, a large number of Austrians have
been made prisoner and sixteen ma
chine guns have been captured, ac-
cording to Rome The Austrian war
office however, asserts that all at
tacks in this region have been re
pulsed.
On the front in France and Bel
gum bombardments and raidng op-
eratiOns, the latter in considerable
strength continue The French near
Leport, north of the Aisne, have re-
pulsed a German attack but on sew
eral other sectors, notably in the
Woevre and in Lorraine, themselves
have carried out successful raids and
taken prisoners. The Canadians near
Arras have been successful in an en-
terprise which gave them % pris-
Ouers and six machine guns
Synchronously with the defeat Of
the Austrians in Italy and the spirit
OF unrest prevalent in the dual mon
archy comes another acknowedg
ment from Germany that that country
is desirous of peace
Through it's foreign secretary, DR.
Richard Won kuehlman, the German
government has made he admission
that the end OF the war could hardly
be expected through purely military
decisions alone and without recourse
TO diplomatic NEGOTIATION, and that
It was hoped Germauys enemiea
would realize that IN view OF the re-
sources OF the TeWunic alHos vic
tory for the entente was a dream
The foreign secretary was eyaa.ye
with regard 10 the future status oil
Belgium but asserted that the mud3-
mental views OF the imperial govern
mont differed from those ascrlted 90
il By British statesmen The aims
On Germany and her allies he said
Included free. strons ana mdopeu
dent existence without boundaries
efawn lor ua hy history over seas
oorreapDndns wilh lhoir freatneas ol
wealth aud freedom 90 ihe seAa to
commerce
lu resuonee iH a recent speeph Pos
Mr Aa8ulh lha iefmer hitbh pre-
mler IA which he aaid 0feat thIlaln
would not turn q deaf eaf @ peace
proposal uat e0aehea n ambiguous