THE ITALIAN THEATRE.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16256, 5 July 1918, Page 7

THE ITALIAN THEATRE.

THE MOUNTAIN WAR. FURTHER GAINS RECORDED. (By Cabl«.—Press Association. —Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Router's Tolcgrams.l LONDON, July 1. An Italian official report states: — "We attacked on Sunday; and captured tho Col del Rosso, and also, aftoi a bitter, all-dav struggle, tho Col del Chele. "Two enemy attacks against Monto di Val Bella were completely arrested. The enemy's masses were mown down bv artillery fire. * "His losses on Juno 29th and 30th were exceptioally heavy, and 88 officers and 1925 men were taken prisoner. Our losses were very light. "Wo repulsed attacks in tho Zugna region." (Received July 4th, 4 p.m.) LONDON, July 2. An Italian official report states: — "Our artillery fire crushed new enemy attacks on the Asiago Plateau, inflicting heavy losses. "Our operations in the north-western region of Grappa yielded important positions and 569 prisoners and many machine-guns. "Wo captured Monte di Val Bella, Col del Rosso, and Col do Chele, taking four guns, 15 trench mortars, 67 machino-guns, and 1000 rifles." LONDON, July 1. An Austrian official roport states: — "Wo withdrew from the Col del Rosso and Monte di Val Bella to our former position in Stenfle Wood." (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, July 2. A semi-official Italian report states: — "The recapture of Monto di Val Bella, Col del Rosso, and Col di Chele wrested from the Austrians the last of their gains. "On the Asiago plateau tho first day's offonsivo completely restored tho situation as it was prior to the great attack. These positions were constantly contested throughout this year's campaign, because they constitute the advanced flank of tho Italians and a jumping-ofl ground for the Austrians wishing to scale the Italian positions. "The victory was due to the perfect co-operation of the artillery and infantry, which reduced the Italian losses to a minimum, whereas the four enemy divisions engaged had exceptionally heavy losses." LONDON. July. 1. News from the Italian front continues to be most satisfactory. The Italians have completely established themselves on the line lost on June 15th. The attack on Monto di Val Bella, from which the Austrians had been threatening the flank of the Piave lino, waa completed within three hours on Saturday morning. It is reported that the Austrian losses here were heavier than in all tho preceding battles. The French artillery co-operated, and effected fearful execution, wiping out a whole battalion. ("The Times.") LONDON. July 2. Mr Ward Price writes:— "The Italians are steadily plucking back isolated fragments of the mountain lino remaining in Austrian hands. The ferocity of the fight for Monte di Val Bella showed that tb© enemy was awaro of tho value of the positions he was relinquishing. and threw in heavy masses of troops from tho best regiments in trying to retain thorn. _ The prisoners taken belong to four divisions. "The gaps mado in the Italian ranks since the Piave counter-attack have now been refilled. "There is a general feeling that only one act of the new drama has boen played. The course of tho next is uncertain, and depends partly on the enemy's plans in France. The continued delay in the offensive there may mean that "German troops are coming to Italy." (Renter's Telegrams.)

BERNE, July 2. The "Neno Freie Presse" boasts that 300 Czechs, including a captain, who were captured in the fighting with the Italians at Montollo, were summarily hanged. TOKIO, July 2. Colonel Hnrban. the Czech leader, states that the Czech forces in Siberia have two hundred thousand Germans at their mercy, and will exact terrible reprisals if the Austrian outrages in Italy continue.

(Australian and N.Z. CaTila Association.) (By Wireless.) LONDON, July 3. General von Below has been appointed to the snnrem© command of the Austrians in Italy. ! ("The Times.") (Received July 4th. 4 p.m.) LONDON, July 3. Mr Jeffries states that the capture of Cu il Rosso and Monte Val Bella were frreat operations, carried out with brilliant dn?h. The defeated divisions include Emperor Karl's favourite Edelweiss troops, under General Scherichenstwel, the most trusted Austrian commander. The Austrian losses greatly exceeded 1500, as reported. On July Ist two fresh regiments entered the fight in the morning—by evening neither existed, all being killed or captured. The Czechs fought with fierce courage. Charging desperately, they flung the enomy, with his guns, down the mountain side. The Austrian defeat was largely due to tho failure to maintain communications, resulting in confusion. Mr Ward Price says that the Italian losses were small beyond all. expecta>tions. All the crack Austrian divisions badly need repairs. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received July 4th, 4 p.m.) ZURICH, July 3. A telegram from Vienna reports sweeping changes in the Austrian command owing to the Italian defeat. FieldMarshal von Koowahs replaces General Conrad von Hoetzendorff. General Krauss, who is Prince Eugene's —*ef of Staff, becomes Chief of the General Staff, replacing General von Arz. The 1 German General, von Below, has been given supreme command of the Italian front. Telegrams from military circles in Vienna attribute the chief blame for the Piave defeat to the Hungarian strike, which, they state, crippled the output of munitions. When tho attack began it was fdund that only seven days' ammunition was on hand. The offensive also was hurried because the politicians hoped for success to relieve the political situation. GAINS ON THE LOWER PIAVE. (Received July 4th, 7.45 p.m.) LONDON, July 4. An Italian official report states:— "On July 2nd wo conducted a Series .of thrusts on the Lower Piave, and against obstinate resistance, over par-tially-flooded country, gained ground. "Wo took 1900 prisoners and many machine-guns and trench mortars. "We repulsed a countor-attack northwest of Monte Grappa, where we took prisoner 25 officers and 596 men, and

capturod many machine-guns and much matorial. "French parties carried out a successful coup-do-main in the Zocchi region, ,11 the Asiago plateau." An Austrian official report says:— "There "was bitter fighting, lasting all day, at the mouth of the Piavo. Tho cnomy was nowhere successful, except for a slight gain of territory near Chie San Nova. "An enemy attempt to land noar Rovedolin, supported by naval forces, broke down." , (Received July 4th, 11 p.m.) LONDON, July 3. Tho Italian operations on the Lower Piave aro aimed at clearing out the enemy by a concentric advanco from west, south, and east. Already they have advanced betwoen 2000 and. 3500 yards, and had cleared two-thirds of tho whole aroa by Tuesday morning. Heavy fighting is proceeding. One of tho objects of the push is to shorten, and straighten the line, and baro a considerable number of troops, possibly a wholo division, for reserve. Incidentally, it removes Venice a further three miles out of effective gun range. NEW DOCK FOR ITALY. (Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association.) (Received July 4th, 4 p.m.) ROME, July 2. The Government is cutting tho canal counocting Lako Avcrnus with the sea, and transforming the lake into a vast dry dock. ' WAR IN THE AIR. THE ALLIES' ACTIVITIES. (By Cable.—Press Association. —Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) c (Reuter'a Telegrams.) LONDON, July 1. Sir Douglas Hiiig's aviation report states: — "We had a most successful day on June 80th. Wo shot down 25 aeroplanes .and drove down ten out of control. ' 'The large number of reconnaissances mado enabled the artillery to engage a greater nuraba** of hostile batteries than on any day for the past fortnight. '•Wo dropi.od 29J tons of bombs during tho day," and 17 tons at night. Of the latter, seven tons fell with goodl effect on the railway connexions at Tournai. Two of our machines are missing.'' (Received July 4th, 4 p.m.) LONDON, July 2. Sir Douglas Haig's aviation roport states: — ; "There was fine weather on Monday and our aeroplanes were very active: Wo destroyed 25 aeroplanes and three balloons and drove down 16 uncontrollable, also two large enemy nightfliers, whifch landed behind our lines. Tho occupants were mado prisoners. Eight of our machines are missing. . Wo dropped 22 tons of bombs in tho day time and 13 tons by night. All our nightfliers returned." (Received July 4th, 10.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 3. Sir Douglas Haig's aviation report states:— -._V "The weather on July 2nd was fine but hazy. Our machines worked as usual, but the enemy was less active. We destroyed 13 aeroplanes and drove down nine uncontrollable. Four of our 9 are missing. ,r We dropped 19 tons of bombs on enemy railways, dumps, and billets/' An Admiralty official report states: "British aeroplanes heavily bombed, an-enemy base at Cattaro. • A ■ ship., was set on fire and a submarine struck." . • LONDON, July 2. The Admiralty reports: - ' "On Saturday night we bombed t«6 chemical works at Mannheim. .On ; Sunday night we attacked an aero- > . arome at Boulay, the railway works , and stations at Thionville, Rcmilly, Landau, Zweibruckon, and -Saarbrucken, and also works at Mannheim. • . "On Monday we bombed with goorf ! effect the railways and workshops at . Ivarthaus, tho station at Treves, artl the railway triangle at Metz-Sablons " (Received July 4th, 4 p.m.)

LONDON, July 3. . ; The independent air force official port states: — • \ "On the night of July let we sue-.; cessfully attacked' an aerodrome!" at - Bouiay. Bursts were observed in an . aerodrome and hutments. "We bombed with good effect, .at .•< Oppau the works of the soda fabrik, also the railway line at Mannheim and railway works at Thionville. , -, > < "We bombed the railway station at Treves on July 2nd, arid also bombed , railway sidings and a shod at Coblentl with good results. All our machines returned." 'i {Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) . j LONDON, July 2. General Maurice 'states:— "It appears that the Air Ministry : has created an "independent air force, piimarily for attacking Germany. The German communique show that the enemy has been forced' to send back ; more and more guns and aeroplanes, in response to the persistent demands of the population for protection. We nro therefore forcing upon the enemy the same measures he compelled us to adopt, and we have thereby obtained a military advantage, apart from the actual damage done to the Rhine towns." General Maurice admits that the bombing of Gciman towns will produce a great moral effivt when the people see that milil::j<- -nccoss is impossible," but raids, Juw '.tumorous and effective, will not txj.iwrt u defeat on iho battlefield into a victory. Tho prime duty of the air forces in France is to ; co-operate with the troops. Therefore, until we are unquestionably supreme in ' other departments of aerial warfare, wo cannot divert its strength in orderto carry the air war into Germany. Oar greatest air supremacy in 1916 was during the Battle of the Somme. Nevqr sinco hav© we re-established such mas- . tery. Although we have now held the superiority for a long time jiast, it ha< never beon a great superiority. W< have always had to fight hard for it* It is as certain as anything can bo i< war that tho Allied superiority will de< velop steadily. Our own output of aircraft has not reached its maximum, and America has hardly begun to make itself felt. When the full output takes effect we will bo in such superiority that it will be one of the first great steps towards final and complete victory.