GENERAL ITALIAN OFFENSIVE BEGUN

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2601, 25 October 1915, Page 5

GENERAL ITALIAN OFFENSIVE BEGUN

FIERCE FIGHTING CONFLICTING REPORTS OF THE RESULTS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Kcc. October 2'), 3.30 p.m.) London, October 23. Though the Balkan® campaign ,is holding the first- place in public interest, the Midden renewal t;C the Italian campaign 15 beiug watched with thculose&t aui koßefulneaa.

There seems to be no doubt that the general Italian offejisivo has begun in earnest. Communiques from both sides devote most attention thereto. It is dear that tlio lighting is bointj conducted with the utmost fury, and official statements emphasise the bloody nature of the strugglo. AN AUSTRIAN ACCOUNT OF THE ATTACK. (Rec. October 2-1, 3.30 p.m.) London, October 23. An Austrian communique says a General Italian attack on the coastal district began, as cxpcctwl, after fifty hours of violent bombardment. Bitter hghting progresses on the Tolmeno bridgehead, and the edge of tho Dobordo Plateau. Alter a partial success all attack's broke down with heavy losses. Kijcmy detachments penetrated the Austrian trenches, but not a man survived. \\ lien tho day closcd the field in front of the Austrian position was covered jtaban dead. 'Ihero was a particularly bloody struggle at Monto San Micliole, with furious hand-to-ha.iid encounters. The enemy losses were heavy. ITALIAN VERSION CLAIMS FAVOURABLE PROGRESS. The Italian .version states that tho offensive bogan successfully in tho Tyrol and 'Irentnio, and extended on the whole front to tho sea, and is progressing favourably. After an intense artillery preparation on the whole Ison™ front, the Italians attacked strong positions, consisting of several lines of trenches, covered by extensive entanglements. Tho Italians dashed forward under concentrated enemy fire of artiller.v, machine-guns, rifles, and showers of grenades._ Tho attackers carried with tho bayonet a number of important positions in tho Monte Nero zono, and numerous trenches in Santa Lucia and Tolmino sector, and at Monto Sabatino, north of Coma, and broko the lines at Carso in several places.