THE ITALIAN OFFENSIVE.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15989, 25 August 1917, Page 10

THE ITALIAN OFFENSIVE.

ADVANCE CONTINUES. OVER 16,000 PRISONERS TAKEN. (By Cable—Press A£6ociation. —Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Itontor'ii Tclesrants.) LONDON, August 23. A •wireless Italian official report states: — "We progressed northward and southward on the Julian front. Our troops repulsing many counter-attacks, carried nositions south-eastward of Dosso Faiti'and had captured 16,000 men and 3.30 officers to yestcrdav. ,; Onr aeroplanes and airships dropped twelve tons of bombs on the enemy's lines.' 5 ENEMY'S FIRST LINE TAKEN. (Rftiter'a Telegrams.) j ROME. August 23. j The Italian offensive lias forced the Austrians to obtain reinforcements from the Eastern front of 12 divisions, mainly recent arrivals from Galicia. After nine counter-attacks had been repulsed near Korito, the Italians took the offensive, capturing an entire regiment. Another brigade assaulted Hills 241 and 247 at least seven times, and captured thousands. The following morning the Italians proceeded to assault the strong linos lielore Selo, and despite a determined resistance the enemy was forced .to abandon almost ontiroly his first line from the plateau to the sca_on a front of GO kilometres (nearly 37 miles). Prisoners are still coming in. GREAT STRUGGLE FOPt HEItMADA.. (United Servicc.) (Received August 2oth, 12.30 a.m.) ROME, August 24. Several Austrian divisions on the Carso were so badly shattered that they have been withdrawn from the firing line. Tho fighting around Hermada is marked by an. incredible ferocity. An Austrian reserve division on the third day of tho struggle was thrown in in »n effort to break the Italian iron ring. Airmen signalled their presence, and suddenly 400 Italian guns opened a terrific and accurate fire, scattering the division like chaff. An Austrian dctachment in the Solo sector, wearing Italian uniforms, got near to the Italians with 100 machineguns, but the trick was discovered and all were annihilated. British and Italian naval guns were largely instrumental in piercing the dcfcnce of tho G'arso. To the northward the Italian front is being methodically advanced along the entire line. The "Seccolo" states: "Hermada is completely invested on land and sea, ,and is undergoing most intense attacks."