ITALIAN FRONT.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16254, 3 July 1918, Page 7

ITALIAN FRONT.

FURTHER GAINS ON MOUNTAIN SECTOR. SUCCESSFUL; ALLIED AIR RAIDS. FOURTH YEAR—336th DAY.

The telegraphic communication between (Jhristchurch and "Wellington is still broken, and no cabled war news has com© South in the ordinary way since wo went to press on Monday morning. Wo print below the fresh news received by cable in Wellington during Monday. THE ITALIAN THEATRE. ANOTHER victory. GAIN 02s ASIAGO PLATEAU. The High Commissioner eports: — LONDON, June 30 (6 p.m.). An Italian official report states "On the Asiago Plateau, after ji bitter struggle, wo have captured Monte Valhalla (di Val Bella?)" AUSTRIA'S LOSSES. STATEMENT BY HUNGARIAN PREMIER. (By Cable.—Press Association. —Copyright.) (Australian atid N.Z. Cable Association.) AMSTERDAM, June 30.^ The Hungarian -Premier (Dr. Wekerle), in a speech in the Lower House of Parliament, said: "In the retreat from the Piave, i 2,000 prisoners fell into Italian hands. Much sadder was the loss suffered in dead, wounded, and sick. Our losses were about a hundred thousand." Regarding tho rumours that Hungarian troops would again be called upon in excessively large numbers so that tile losses would fall only on them, Dr. Wekerle pointed out that 33 Hungarian aud 37 Austrian regiments took part in the advance and the v retreat. Tho Italians lost a hundred and fifty thousand. "Rumours had been circulated," hesaid, "that our losses were causcd by ; tlio lack,of ammunition ; but pur army was never so well provided with ammunition. Three bridges across tho Piave were carribd away, And thus insurmountable difficulties arose in transporting ammunitions and provisions. The retrent was carried out according to plan. Iri spite of these regrettable events, wo undoubtedly inflicted important losses upon the "Italians. They were prevented from sending troops to the Western front, which; in tho common interests of the war,, is without doubt the objective, which it is also our duty to attain, and which we did attain."

AN EXPLANATION. (Renter's Telesrato*.! . AMSTERDAM, Jun.3 30. An official telegram, from Vienna seeks to minimise tho Premier's statement about tho losses, and explains that Dr. Wekerle's figures were -wrong owing to a telephonic error. Tho losses wero Ig9s than in the Isonzo battles, which amounted trt from 80,000 to 100,000. Moreover, they covered the wholo period from June 15th to June 20th, tod included sick.

AFFAIRS IN GERMANY: ACUTE FOOD SHORTAGE. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Rcuter's Telegrams.) AMSTERDAM, June 30. The -'Nieuwe llotterdnmsche Courar.t" states that a large part of Germany's cats and dogs have been killed owing to tho food scarcity. The majority of the poultry has also been slaughtered. Cows are insufficiently fed. and if they do not yield a proscribed Quantity of milk are slaughtered. The worst fato has befallen horses, and great numbers are starving; Pig-breeding is threatened with utter ruin. Only sheep-farming is in a more favourable condition. ARMY RATIONS TO BE REDUCED. ! ("The Times.") LONDON, Juno 30. "The Times" correspondent at British Headquarters states that the rations of tho German Army will be reduced from Monday. The new scale will bo entirely without fats, despite the cold nights. THE DUAL EMPIRE. AUSTRIAN PARLIAMENT TO MEET. (Rcuter's Telegrams.) AMSTERDAM, June 30. Vienna reports state that the Emperor Charles again refused to accent tho resignation of tho Scidler Miiiistry, and has announced the convocation of the Reichsrath for July 16th. THE BUDAPEST STRIKE. BERNE. June 30. One hundred thousand out of 250,000 organised workers participated in the Budapest strike. The strikers resolved to resume work only after tho Premier (Dr. Wekerle) had promised an electoral reform measure before the end of July. The fighting in the streets lasted for several days. Many wore killed and over two thousand strikers were arrested. FOUR THOUSAND ARRESTS. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) ZURICH, June 30. . Four thousand arrests have been made in Budapest. A large number of deserters and criminals took part in the rioting, and 22 gendarmes arid civilians were killed. | HUNGARIAN TROOPS MUTINY. *L, PARIS. June 30. The 'Matin" states that Hungarian troops who recently arrived from Rusinfected with Bolshevism, and mutinied in the garrisons of Pex and Gyper. Two hundred officers were setatenced to death. The mutinous spirit is largely extending in the army.