THE ITALIAN THEATRE.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16258, 8 July 1918, Page 7

THE ITALIAN THEATRE.

MORE GROUND GAINED

PROGRESS ON POIVE AND MOUNTAIN SECTORS.

(By Cabin.—Pr««* Association.— Copyright (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Boater's Telegrams.) ( Received July 7th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, July 5. An Italian official report states: — "On the Lower Piave, having repulsed a violent counter-attack, and destroyed now centres of the enemy's resistance, we considerably extended our occupation south-east of Chiosanuova, and northward of Cavazuccherina, taking 419 prisoners, and a battery of sis howitzers, and many machine-guns. "Wo penetrated the enemy positions north-east of Monte Grappa, and repulsed two counter-attackß on the Asiago Plateau, inflicting severo losses. "Tho British destroyed a post at Cm ' m " LONDON, July 5. An Italian official message states:— "We gained more ground northward of Cavazuccherina (five miles from the mouth of the Piave) "We extended' and improved our positions north-west of Monte Grappa, and on the Monte Coerono, via Monte Rosso and Monte Beralgo, on the Asiago Plateau, and brought back prisoners "Allied airmen dropped 18 tons of bombs on important centres and cross roads in tho lower Piave region."

AN AUSTRIAN ADMISSION. (Renter's Telegrams.) (Received July Bth, 1.20 a.m.) VIENNA, July 6Tho Italians succeoded in pressing back our southern flank.

SEA AND LAND OFFENSIVE.

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

LONDON, July 5. Early this morning, Italian warships attacked the coast between Revedoli, on the banks of the Old Piavo, and Caorle, in conjunction with an attack by troops ashore. The whole objective was to drive tho enemy fiom the area between the Piavo and the Old Piavo. The first flotilla, headed for Pola, detected a force of Austrian destroyers coming southwest. The Austrians went at full speed to Pola, and for 20 minutes a running .fight was carried on at a range of 2000 yards, with tho Austrian tracer shells falling accurately around the pursuers. Tho funnel of one of the Italian ships was hit by a shell, and the. engines were injured. The largost Austrian destroyer was directly hit-, flames belched up low the bridge, and the vessel's speed was reduced. Tho Italian flotilla gave up the chase in order to protect the other flotilla which was bombarding the coast. This force steamed up and down the ooast, firing at the Austrian shore batteries and encampments. At 6 o'clock, auxiliary cruisers towing rafts lay in to the coast, while the destroyers gave out clouds of smoke to mask the movements of the whole group of ships. This mock landing produced wild fire ashore. Simultaneously a great attack by the Italian Army started from to the r".ast. end by nightfall ' hafs driven tho Austrians from most of tho ground betwean the two Piaves. Nearly two thousand prisoners were taken, mostly Bosnians, who resisted vigorously. The Italians set fire to the small bridges on tho river with floats, which were sent down the'stream blasting with petrol. The Italians, under heavy fire, built eight canal bridges. The battlefield was seven miles long and two deep.

("The Times.*') (Received July 7th, 11.45 p.m.)

LONDON, July 5. . *fr Ward Price says that a curious semi-submerged battle is proceeding as the result of the Italian effort to eject the Austrians from the Piave estuary. The battle, he says, has resolved itself into a series of fierce little struggles, often hand-to-hand, on islets, causeways, and dykes. Dead, wounded, and

living alike fall into the dykes and are

swallowed pitilessly in the slimy water, but the Italians are slowly pushing out the eliemy.