ey were meeting with through the heavy
rains.

The victory of the Italians, which was now apparent, was received all
over Italy with great public rejoicing. Italy had been repenting in
sackcloth and ashes her defeat of the previous fall. Now they had made
amends and were showing what the Italian soldier could really do. In
America, and among the Allied Powers, there was great enthusiasm, and
Secretary of War Baker sent this congratulatory message to the Italian
Minister of War:

Your Excellency: The people of the United States are watching with
enthusiasm and admiration the splendid exploits of the great army of
Italy in resisting and driving back the enemy forces which recently
undertook a major offensive on the Italian front. I take great pleasure
in tendering my own hearty congratulations, and would be most happy to
have a message of greeting and congratulation transmitted to General
Diaz and his brave soldiers.
NEWTON D. BAKER,
Secretary of War of the United States.

In announcing to his victorious army the repulse of the Austrians
General Diaz, the Italian Commander-in-Chief, said:

"The enemy who, with furious impetuosity, used all means to penetrate
our territory has been repulsed at all points. His losses are very
heavy. His pride is broken. Glory to all commands, all soldiers, all
sailors."

On the 26th of June the Italian troops, having forced the last rear
guard of the retreating Austrians to surrender and completely occupied
the west bank of the Piave, began an offensive on the mountain front in
the Monte Grappa sector. They gained more than 3,000 prisoners, and
considerable territory. On the southern part of the Piave front they
were carrying on a vigorous offensive against the Austrian positions
within the Piave delta. The Austrian troops, at that point, were being
prevented from retreat by the high water, and suffered terrible losses.
On July 6th the Italians drove the last of the enemy from the delta.

The campaign in Italy now languished, until, on October 27th, Italy
began her last terrible drive. The great Italian offensive was made not
only by their own forces and the French and British troops, which had
assisted them the previous June, but during the intervening period a
large force of Americans had arrived in Italy. On June 27th Secretary
Baker had made the announcement that General Pershing had been
instructed to send into Italy a regiment that was then in training in
France. The