The Americans were being held in reserve, but American airplanes
were actively participating in the work at the front. By this time the
last lines of the Austro-Hungarian resistance on the central positions
along the Piave River had been broken, and more than fifteen thousand
prisoners been taken. The Austrians, however, had been desperately
resisting, and their artillery fire at many points was very effective,
especially that which had been directed at the pontoon bridges thrown
across the Piave.
King Victor Emanuel had been present in person during the crossing, and
was often under the fire of the Austrian guns. On October 30th, 33,000
Austrians had been captured and the Italians had reached Vittorio.
Americans had now joined in the fighting.
The Austrian retreat reached the proportion of a rout. They were still
fighting, especially in the mountain region, but in the plains east of
the Piave they were in full flight. Taking into consideration the
numbers of troops in the Austrian lines and their apparently plentiful
supplies, it began to seem probable that their break was due more to
political maneuvers than to military force. The Austrians at this time
were making a great peace drive, and the dissatisfaction at home had
affected the morale of the troops at the front. The conditions in Italy
were in close resemblance to those in Bulgaria just before Bulgaria
applied for an armistice.
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