75,000 AUSTRIANS INVOLVED IN DEBACLE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 150, 25 June 1918, Page 5

75,000 AUSTRIANS INVOLVED IN DEBACLE.

DISASTROUS EFFECT ON ENEMY'S MORAL PROBABLE.

i LONDON, June 25. The newspapers estimate 75,000 Austrians are involved in the disorderly flight over the Piave. The debacle is certain to have a disastrous effect on the enemy moral, and most serious internal consequences in Austria-Hungary. Rome is en fete in connection with the great victory on the Piave. The city is decked with flags. Other cities celebrated the success by patriotic demonstrations.

An Italian official report, issued just before the retreat, states:—Our artillery continues to bombard the enemy intensely on the whole front. The infantry continued the pressure at Montello and on the Piave. The British, in an energetic surprise action, broke into the enemy's lines south of the Asiago, killed 100, and took 31 prisoners. Our airmen bombarded the enemy's ■communications and brought down ten aeroplanes. The enemy has lost 95 Aeroplanes since June 15. An Italian semi-official report states: —Reciprocal artillery activity is etfll intense along the Piave, while attacks and counter-attacks to secure tactical advantages are proceeding. The first phase of the great battle, however, has terminated. It has been a. full defeat for the Austro-Hungarian armies, •which have not succeeded in reaching any of their objectives. On the Montello and in front of San Dona di Piave the enemy sacrifices were enormous, entire regiments being destroyed. The enemy losses total at least 200,000, made -without gaining even the indispensable initial success of some dominating &kgbt assuring a crossing of the Piave. _j t .., -.——•- . *-