COLD STEEL AT THE BATTLE OP PLAVA

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2494, 22 June 1915, Page 5

COLD STEEL AT THE BATTLE OP PLAVA

STORY OF THE ITALIAN ATTACK HEAVY LOSSES, BUT IMPORTANT RESULTS Rome, Juno 20. Official.—Details are given of the battle for the height on the loft bank of the Isonzo, commanding Plava. Plava is at tho bottom of a pass, 6hut in by steep wooded slopes, with a swift and deep river between. Our troops, by great and courageous efforts, threw pontoons across at night, and attacked at dawn on Juno 16, in tho face of terrible difficulties, which included deep networks of stout barbed-wire; roinforced with iron bars, and numerous hidden heavy guns. Tho Italians, after repeatel assaults with tho cold steel, dobouched in the evening 011 the border of tho first position. All counter-attacks weTe driven back. We carried the heights on Juno 17, but the enemy concentrated a violent artillery and maoliine-gun firo on U3, and repeatedly sent fresh troops. These wero decimated, and were finally repulsed with the bayonet. Our losses wero serious, but the Tosults wero important. DUMMY TRENCHES WITH PUPPETS IN UNIFORM. (Rcc. June 21, 5.45 p.m.) London, June 19. 'An official report from Homo states that t'he Austrians liavo delivered manifestoes to Italian soldiers by means of balloons, promising tho men a crown for overy rifle, COO crowns for every machine-gun, and 2000 for orery cannon or aeroplano which is surrendeied. Whon tho Italians crossed tho Isonzo to attack Tolmino, the Bersaplieri wero just over tho river when an Austrian shell destroyed tho bridge. Tito Bersaulieri, confronted with an apparently impregnablo first lino of trenelios, decided to assail tli.Mii and sell their lives dearly, but just then tho Al|>ini signalled from an adjacent mountain crest that the Austrian trenches wero only imitations, lined with puppets dressed like Austrians, and armsd with wooden guns.--("Times" and Sydney "Sun'' Services.) SPLENDID DASH BY THE ALPINI I- iGHTINf! ON CRAGS AND PI! KCIPIC'ES. Rome, Juno 20. . Detail.- of the Alpini's attack on the northern slopes of Monte Kern, where tho Austrians aro being constantly reinforced, show that the ground was so difficult, that the Italian staff derided to advance at night, ill absolute silence. It. was hoped by rlirnhinc jilnmst perpendicular rocks to attack the enemy from two sidos. Tho Alpini were armed with rilles and hombs. Soma took off their boots and wrapped their feet, in rags in order to climb up the. CTags quietly. , ... By dawn t'he column was operating on the Vjata coimtor'earp. and another north-west of Monte Potofe. Meanwhile t,be Alpini wore within two jards of the enemy keforo they were detected They leaped into the trene'ne?. and a (ui'imif. hnttrf-fehnH'l wiyemst* ifcs huu» «i- Hito {olluwsio'. flu i.UUaaa vJjea took fto second Uat> of tr» __

Tho inci'Jont of tho Hungarian attack followed, and was repulsed, as already told. _ Simultaneously two Italian columns made a night attack on the Monte Kozliak front. Tbey got within two hundred yards of; ,tho Austrian trenches before the.y were detected. Tho Alpini, without a moment's hesitation, drashed in and forced tho astonished Austrians to retreat. They pursued them with a fire of stones and hand grenades, while the second column struck the Austrian rear and cut off its retreat. Six hundrod Austrians were taken prisoner and three hundred were left on the lield wounded. The Italian' losses were slight. FLOATING BATTERIES ON THE ISONZO DELTA. Roma, Juno 20. The delta, of t'ho Isonzo is impracticable for warships owing to the shallowness of tlie water. The naval gunners silenced the batteries at Duino by means of floating batteries similar to these used at Alexandria in 1882. SUCCESSFUL RAIDS BY ITALIAN AIRMEN. London, Juno 21, 8.40 a.m. The High Commissioner reports: — "Italian dirigibles on Thursday night raided tho enemy's territory, returning safely." A MISSION OP CORRUPTION TO THE SENUSSI. Paris, Juno 20. A communique states: "A French' destroyer oaptur6d, between Capo Matapan and Crete, a small Greek vessel, with forged papers, and a numbor of Turkish officers aboard, voyaging to Tripoli. The officers were conveying Enver Pasha's presents to tho Senussi. SERVIANS REPORTED TO BE AT DURAZZO. Athens, June 20. It is reported that the Servians have occupied Durazzo (the capital of 'Albania). Essad Pasha (President of the Government) has fled, presumably to Italy. ADVANCE OF THE MONTENEGRINS. (Rec. June 21, 9.15 p.m.) Rome, June 21. The Montenegrins havo occupied the heights of Tarabosch. Their objeotivo is Scutari.