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Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2625, 22 November 1915, Page 5

SOME PORTIONS OF THE POSITIONS MAY BE ABANDONED.London, November 19.. The "Manchester Guardian" doubts whether the Government will decide . in favour of tho evacuation of the Dardanelles. It says: "Possibly some portions of _tho positions may be abandoned, but we do not beliove that we will voluntarily release our entire hold on tho Peninsula." GENERAL VON MACKENSEN SENT TO GALLIPOLI. Rome, November 19. t It is stated that, anticipating Lord Kitchener's mission, the Kaiser, directed General von Mackensen to hurry to Gallipoli to direct the German and Turkish forces. Von Mackensen arrived at Constantinople on Sunday last, and left on Tuesday. • Othor reports aro to the effect that th.j Kaiser is personally directing the operations against the Serbians and tho Anglo-French. ' TURKS CLAIM SUCCESS IN A COUNTER-ATTACK. (Hec. November 21, 3.30 p.m.) . Amsterdam, November 19. 'A' Turkish communique claims: By flanking fire and counter-attack at Krithia we repulsed the enemy, to his old positions. Tho enemy's losses were severe. t GERMAN REINFORCEMENTS FOR THE TURKS. ("Times" and Sydney "iiSun" Services.) (Rec. November 20, 5.20 p.m.) London, November 19. The "Petit Parisien" has received a roport from Geneva that the Germans have' engaged Russo-French prisoners: on the Munich railways loading for the expeditionary force at the Dardanelles, thus treleasing railwajmen who constitute the last reserve. Seventy-two thousand Germans haro teen dispatched to reinforce the Turks. ARTILLERY FIGHTING AT THE DARDANELLES. (Rec. November 21, 11 p.m.} Amsterdam, November 21. A Turkish communique 6ays: There has been artillery fighting at the Dardanelles, the enemy's cruisers participating. . During a violent storm on the night of November 18 two enemy landing bridges were'destroyed and a tugboat and nine large boats stranded. The enemy at Seddul-Bahr continuously bombed our trenches at that centre. COMMENT BY LORD CHARLES BERESFORD. (Rec. November 21, 11 p.m.) London, November 20. Lord Charles Beresford, in a communication to the Press commenting on Mr. Churchill's statement in the House of Commons, says he is convinced that if tho policy to attack the Dardanelles had been brought by the Admiralty before the naval and military war staffs, the decision of such a mad scheme as attacking without military support would never have been initiated. FOURTH BATTLE OF GORIZIA STERN MOUNTAIN FIGHTING ITALIANS CAPTURE A MOUNTAIN RIDGE By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright (Rec. Novembe- 21, 4.35 p.m.) London, November 20. Mr. Karl Wiegand, the American war correspondent, cabling to the New York "World," says that the fourth- great bittle for. Gorizia and the Doberdo Plateau 'began two days ago. The weafher is probably unexampled on any other front. It rained in torrents for two weeks, the low-lying places along fffto Isonzo are a sea of mud, hip deep in the_ trenches, blasted through rock, and converted into mountain torrents. Lito filiis mess the Italian batteries pour a hail of shell and shrapnel day and night. Tho concentrated Italian artillery is splendidly served, and surpasses anything I had seen when the Germans smashed their way through the Russian 'ines. Those who participated on the Russian front declare it child's play compared with this Doberdo Plateau and a portion of .Monte pogdor.. callcd "Hell," a name that is justified. General Oadorna is concentrating fifteen hundred guns, and their full-weight army against the plateau and Gorizia, on a front not exceeding twelve miles. Ths bravery is unbelievable, and tho endurance of the Austrians under these indeisoribable conditions is beyond tho imagination, and revises the widespread id'ja that the Austrians do not fight well unless under Gorman officers. . Tho Italian conflict appears to be greatly : under-estimated, especially as regards its bearing on the general situation of the Central Powers, if General Cadorna takes Gorizia and Trieste, and on the Isonzo the Austrians have held up their lines for six months against three to one odds. The Italians have gained a firm footing on the edge of the plateau, and have advanced somewhat at terrible cost, and progressed elsewhere wiappreciab'y. There is desperate fighting on the slopes of San Michele, Pogdora, and San Sabotina, which, if taken, means the loss of Gorizia. _ San Michele is known as the "Mountain of corpses" from fie heaps of Italian dead in front of the Austrian trenches. Of the long-dead in all directions the picture is boyond imagination in its ghastliness and stench. Archduke Joseph estimates that over ten thousand are unburied in front of his lines, and states the Italians' fighting is increasingly improving. They charge with great elan, and the shook is. greater 'than the Russian charges, but if the charge is withstood the Italians quickly retire, while the Russians move on until shot down. The Italians for some days fire severity thousand shells and shrapnel, until the rocky surfaces look as if shaved with a- gigantic razor. Sapping and mining in the rooky ground is practically impossible, the effect of the shell fire is more terrible, hurling showers of rock, which crush the men. AUSTRIAN LINES PENETRATED (Rec. November 21, 4.45 p.m.) Amsterdam, November 20. An Austrian communique. says"Thres thousand shells fell in Gorizia in two hours, causing serious fires, but the military damage was trifling. The inhabitants suffered severe losses in lives and property. The enemy repeatedly penetrated our lines on the Doberdo Plateau, but,we maintained our positions after hand-to-hand fighting." . HEAVY AUSTRIAN LOSSES ON FRIDAY. (Reo. November 21, 11 p.m.) Zurich, November 21. Austrian losses in tho vicinity of Gorizia on Friday are estimated at eight thousand. . THE PERUGIA BRIGADE'S GOOD WORK. (Rec. November 21, p.m.) _• Rome, November 20. Italian communique :—"The Perugia Brigade, in the San Michele zone, conquered the whole mountain ridge leading to Isonzo, between Pekano and Boschini. Tie enemy during the night mae'le repeated furious counter-attacks and succeeded seven times in reaching our lines, but was thrown back in disorder. Then the Fusiliers and dispersed them, capturing much material."- s AEROPLANE ATTACK ON VERONA. (Rec. November 21, 4.45 p.m.) Romo, November 20. Italian communique :—"Enemy aeroplanes bombed Verona and Vicenza Grado. There were few casualties. Also fifteen bombs were dropped in tho TJdino, killing twelve oivilians and wounding nineteen." AUSTRIAN HYDROPLANES AT VENICE.' (Reo. November 21, 8.80 p.m.) i Berlin, November 19. Official.—"Austrian, hydroplanes bombec!_ the forts, arsenal, hangars, barracks, gasworks, and railway station at Venice, and returned safely, despite violent fire and attacks bjj three.ltalian aeroplanes."