AUSTRIANS GIVE WAY

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 4904, 25 June 1918, Page 5

AUSTRIANS GIVE WAY

-m ' v sr ,' PELL MELL RETREAT I . ' y FLIGHT OVER THE PIAVE GLORIOUS ITALIAN VICTORY

(United Piesa Association—-Dooypglit.)

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association (Received '>June 24, 5.5 p.m.) ROME, June 23. The enemy appears to be exhausted. The territory now’ occupied by the Austrians is less than half that gained during the first few days of the attack. Their total losses now' exceed 200,000. v

ENEMY FLEE IN DISORDER. PURSUED BY VICTORIOUS . ITALIANS. Australian and NZ. Cable Association ; and Beuter’s. (Received June 24, 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, June 24 (3.30 a.m.) An Italian official report says: From Montello to the sea the enemy, defeated and pursued by the Italians, are recrossing the Piave in disorder. ITALIAN NAVAL SUCx CESSES. AUSTRIAN NAVY’S SEVERE LOSSES. Beuter’s Telegrams. (Received June 24, 5.5 p.m.) ROME. June 23. 1 In the Senate Admiral Delhono, Minister for Marine, referring to the recent; successes, said the Austrians within a month had lost two and possibly three battleships, besides other smaller vessels damaged severely. This blow v. ould be increased if they added the loss of the battleship Wien in the port of Trieste and also the damage and loss inflicted on lighter surface craft and submarines. It was remarkable the number of submarines that had reen dealt with. EARLIER REPORTS. GREAT AUSTRIAN BLOW FAILS- 1 WAR MINISTER’S STIRRING SPEECH. Australian and N.Z. Cab)“ association (Received! Jim? 25, 12.5 a.m.) • _ ROME, June 24. Baron Orlando, in a stirring speech in the Senate, said the Army had been confronted with the most formidable task of the whole war, hut despite the enemy’s .numerical superiority in attacking almost the whole of our 75-mile front, the Italians had victoriously succeeded in withstanding the onslaught. A fresh battle might soon re-open, hut without boasting or excessive optimism, they were entitled to be well satisfied with the feeble results secured in view of the enemy’s ambitions objectives. He could say that the offensive thus far has ended, not in failure, but in defeat.

GERMANS ADMIT AUSTRIAN FAILURE. AUSTRIANS TREACHERY. CZECH O-SLAVsT BEAMED. , .. •» , Australian and N.Z. Cable Association WASHINGTON, June 23. Official despatches from Europe say that German newspapers tacitly admit the failure of the Austrian offensive. They declare it was necessary to prevent Italian troops going to France to reinforce the Allies on the West front. Many experts consider rhe main Austrian offensive' -is m the Piave. They declare the Intelligence Bureau had early and precise information *to that effect, enabling a timely concentration of Italian reserves. Austrian news via Switzerland attributes the defeat of the offensive to Czecho-Slav treachery. Viennese newspaper declare that traitors sup plied the Italians with the plan of the offensive. AUSTRIA’S HEAVY LOSSES BRITISH REAP RED HARVEST. Australian and N-Z- Cable Association LONDON. June 23. The Daily Chronicle’s correspondent at Milan states that Baron Orlando. in an interview, said that the British commander on the. Asiago Plateau superintended -personally the burial of over five thousand A ustrians in that sector. , The enemy losses at Monte Grappa and Montello, .especially along the Piave, were terrific, nevertheless ' the Austrians’ spirits were remarkably high. Officers are now marching at the head of the troops instead of following in the rear. Oiir haul of 2500 prisoners included 20 officers. BRITISH SURPRISE ACTION. ENEMY FRONT PENETRATED. Australian and N.Z. Cablft Association and neuter’s. (Received June 24, 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, June 23. An Italian official report says:— Our artillery continues to bombard the enemy intensely on the whole front; and our infantry continued their pressure at Montello and on the Piave. The British, in -an energetic surprise action, broke intcY the enemy’s lines southward of the Asiago Plateau and killed one hundred and took 31 prisoners. Our airmen bombarded the enemy’s communications and downed i ICC aeroplanes. The enemy has lost] since the 15th 95 aeroplanes. I

Baron Orlando paid a glowing tribute to the Anglo-French, and declared that the nation also owed * debt of gratitude to the heroic defenders of the Piave.

ITALIANS CELEBRATE VICTORY. ROME IS EX' FETE Australian and N.Z. Cable Association (Received 'June 25, 2.5 a.m.) LONDON, June 24. Rome is en fete in connection with the great Piave victory. The city is beflagged and other cities celebrated the success by patriotic demonstrations, particularly Venice, which is no longer threatened 1 The Daily Telegraph’s Milan correspondent states that the failure of the Austrian offensive is . now officially recorded, but were firmly convinced from the outset that the battle, was won. This encouraged them in the counterattacks and diminished the importance of the Austrians’ minor gains. EXCITEMENT IN LONDON. FURTHER NEWS EAGERLY AWAITED. , ALLIES OFFERED AND ENCOURAGED. Australian ar 3 N.Z. Cable Association (Received June 25, 2.45 a.m.) LONDON, June 24. The/ newspapers estimate that seventy-five thousand Austrians are involved in the disorderly flight. A debacle is certain and will have a disastrous effect on the enemy’s morale and most serious internal consequences irt Austro-Hungary. Australia** and N.Z. Cable Association (Received June 25, 12.55 a.m.) LONDON, June 24. Further news from the Italian front is awaited .with the keenest interest. Military critics accept the accuracy of the report that a complete disaster lias overtaken the Austrians between Montello and the sea, pointing out that the failure to gain the indispensable initial successes in the mountain sector rendered the crossing of the Piave insecure. . The communications across- the river from the outset were only maintained with difficulty. The news that a retreat has begun gives added significance to Austria’s gloomy communique as regards the difficult condition of the Piave. It is generally believed that the communique was intended to pave the way for worse tidings. General Maurice says the news from the Italian front is better and better. The Allies have every reason to feel cheered and encouraged by the stubborn defence which successfully foiled Austria’s greatest effort and left the enemy only a few miles of marshy, low land- and. n precarious footing on Montello ridge in exchange for long casualty lists. But the latest information shows that General Diaz has passed from defence into attack and is in a fair way to convert the defeat into a disaster. Baron Sonnino recently stated that General-Diaz employed only a small part of his available reserves in holding up the enemy attacks. It was now evident he had been able to bring into action some of the'remainder of his reserves under most favorable conditions. The Piave is a mountain river, which, when it enters the plain,, opens out nn an average width'exceeding a mile. Normally it is of little valuers la

BATTLE OF THE PSAVE. AUSTRIAN LOSSES TOTAL 180,000. ABSOLUTELY no gains.* Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and Renter's. (Received June 24, 10 p.m.) LONDON, June 23. An Italian semi-official report says:— Reciprocal artillerying is still intense along the Piave, while attacks and counter-attacks to assume tact 1 * cal advantages are proceeding. The first phase of the great battle, however, has terminated. It has been a full defeat for the Austro-Hunga-rian armies, which have, not succeeded in reaching any of them objectives. . 0 At Montello and in front of ban Dona the enemy sacrifices were enormous, entire regiments being destroyed. ' The enemy losses are at least 180 000, without gaining even the indispensable initial success of some dominating height assuring the crossing of the Piave. AUSTRIAN CLAIMS. LATEST COMMUNIQUE. Admiralty—Per Wireless Press. (Received June 24, 9.10 p.m.) LONDON. June 23. An Austrian official report says: The fighting on the Piave is less violent. The enemy only resumed counter-attacks oh the southern wing of 1 * our front. Heavy rains have multiplied the burdens and privations of our troops. The Piave. became 'a rushing '.stream and communications between the banks were often interrupted for several hours. We are experiencing the greatest difficulties' in providing the front with necessaries, munitions and provisions. THE ITALIAN CASUALTIES TOTAL ONLY 40,000. Reuter’s Telegrams. (Received June 24, 11.10 p.m.) ROME, June 24. The Austrian claim that they have taken 40,000 prisoners is semi-offi-cially denied. The truth is this figure represents the whole of the Italian casualties, which, compared .with the length of front and the effectives involved, is very small.

AUSTRIANS BREAK DOWN TROOPS FLEE ACROSS THE ' PIAVE. Australian and N.Z- Cable Association (Received June 24, -11 p f m.) - LONDON. June 23. Latest reports from Rome indicate that the Austrians have abandoned their effort west of the Rave • and they are retreating pell mell, hastily constructing .bridges across the river. ' - /