regiment thus sent was augmented considerably later. The
purpose of sending troops to Italy, Mr. Baker explained, was rather
political than military. It was desired to demonstrate again that the
Allied nations and the United States were one in their purposes on all
fronts, and to extend the intercourse between the troops of all the
powers at war with Germany.

On the second day of the Italian offensive their success increased. More
than nine thousand Austrians were taken prisoners and fifty-one guns
were captured. The Piave River had been crossed, and the Italians had
advanced four miles to its east. The attacks in the mountain region were
being more bitterly contested, and counter-attacks had enabled the enemy
to regain some of their lost positions.

On October 30th the Italian advance was continuing. The Austrian front
appeared to be breaking under the heavy blows of the Allied troops.
Dispatches indicated striking successes, not only on the Italian front
but at the points where the British and the French were holding the
line. 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.