AUSTRIANS NOW ON THE DEFENSIVE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2491, 18 June 1915, Page 5

AUSTRIANS NOW ON THE DEFENSIVE

ADVANTAGE OF POSITION LOST FRUITLESS ATTEMPTS TO PIERCE THE PASSES Rome, June 16. Official.—"Tbe enemy made repeated attempts to break through tho Sesis Pass, in the Carnic Alps, but was repulsed and pursued with the bayonet. Investigations confirm the reports that the enemy is using explosive hullets." ; HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. The Higli Commissioner roports:-- | London, June 16, 2.30 p.m. Tho Italians are gradually proceeding with the occupation of the domin- | a till" points in the Tyrol,, on the Trentino frontier and in Cadore. Except for artillery firm" and two fruitless attacks oil Sunday against Picdevaloue, ill tlie upper Piave Valley, tho enemy has given no sign of activity there. "In the Carnic Alps the enemy's attacks are more intense, repeated attempts being made to break through-.near Sessis I'oss, which is still strongly "Tlie Italians are chiefly concentrated on a ridge of Mount Avostartis, in the Monte Croce Pass. Here the enemy made a vigorous attack on Monday momin", prepared by severe artillery firing, but were repulsed at the point of the bayonet. Some of our wounded sliow proof that the enemy is using explosive projectiles. ENEMY'S PLAN NOW CLEARER DESPERATE DEFENCE OF GORIZIA AND TOLMINO. Rome, June 16, The Austrian plan is now clearer. The enemy is prepared to make a desperate defence of Gorizia and Tolmino, believing it to be impossible for tho Italians to continue the march to Trieste while tlie left flauk is threatened. The Austrians are everywhere oil the defensive, except in the Carnio zono, where tllo best troops are centred for a violent offensive aiming at the invasion of the valleys leading to Venice, so as to force the Italians to retreat in order to defend their own territory. . . The enemy is defending Gorizia from the height ot Podgora, west of the town where four miles of tho front is covered with invisible trenches protected with steel plates. They are connected with several rows of underground tun. nels, whence the troops can fight_ in complete cover, supported by heavy artillery hidden in grottos excavated in the hills. Fierce fighting is proceeding from the Inferno alley to Malborghetto,. at a height of seven thousand feet. So far the Austrian attacks have been repulsed. A battle which had been raging for several days at the foot of East Trentino glaciers ended in an Austrian rout. Though fierce and picturesque, these Alpine engagements do not poss os» great military importance. FIERCE FIGHT IN THE SESSIS PASS. (Roc. June 17, 7.20 p.m.) London, June 17. ■ Mr. Martin Donohoe, tho "Daily Chronicle's" war correspondent, writing from Rome, reports that the attacked the Italian positions ill the Sossis Pass at dawn. They advanced in,massed formation, and few lived to reach the Italian trenches. The Austrian artillery was unable -to co-oper-ate, owing to the unfavourable nature of the ground; they feared to decimate their own ranks. j "Their infantry reserved their fire, trusting to the bayonet, but the Italian fire swept the open ground, and the Austrians fell in heaps. The first and second attacks withered away, and the third also failed." AN AUSTRIAN OFFENSIVE NOW IMPRACTICABLE ITALIANS HOLD MOST OF THE IMPORTANT PASSES. London, June 16. A report from Milan states that mi Austrian offensi/e, long predicted in the event of an Austro-Italian war, is now impracticable. Despite the Austrians' favourable geographical position, the Austrians-are upon the defensive, and are collecting all available troops for the protection of jwrts and tho entrenchment of camps. The Italians' first task will be the capture of dominating positions. ' e ' , The opening phase of the Italian advance developed most fortunately, and they now hold the most important Alpine passes in Trentino, Cadore, and Friuli, breaking the Austrian resistance at some points.

AUSTRIAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. (Rec. June 17, 7.20 p.m.) London) June 17. An Austrian official communique states: —"Tho Italians everywhere have been repulsed."