STUBBORN BATTLE DEVELOPING IN THE TRENTINO

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2810, 30 June 1916, Page 5

STUBBORN BATTLE DEVELOPING IN THE TRENTINO

AUSTRIANS DEFENDING COMMANDING POSITIONS FURTHER ADVANCE OF THE ITALIANS The High Commissioner reports:- „„„,„' London, Juns 28, 2.10 p.m. Between the Adigo and the Erenta, canimanding positions, where tlio defences had been, strongly organised, were reached by tlio enemy, who has largely increased his activity in resisting tho Italian advance. Nevertheless, considerablo progress was made. - . "Between tho Lngarina Valley and the Vak Arsa, an intense shelling of enemy positions took place at Mounts Trappola and Teste C'olsanto, and n suited in our taking trenches at Malga Hugna. , ~. , , ,' , "Between Posina and tlio Astico, tho onomy s positions wero taken at Mount Ga'imondo, northwards of Fusino end Mount Caviojo, tho cavalry reaching "On the Asiago Plateau and tho southorn side of Arsa Valley we reached tho slopes of Mount Basta, intcrrotto, and Mossiagh, which wero strongly held by the enemy's rearguards. , ' ■ ~.„,,. ~ T . ,• "Further north, after carrying positions on Mount Colombara, the Italians hewn to- approach the Caluiarara Valley. In the upper Cut, after intonso artillery fire, the Italians advanced, taking redoubts and trenches in the aeighbourhood "On the' Isonzo, artillery fire, followed by raids, resulted in 353 prisoners and two machine-guns being taken." HOW THE TABLES WERE TURNED (By Telegraph—Press Association -.-Copyright). (Rcc. Juno 29, 10.30 p.m.) ; Rome, .Tune 29. Tho Austrians in two days lost half the territory they had won during fortyfive days of bloody lighting, involving 130,000 Austrian casualties. The Austrians had succeeded in penetrating all tlio valleys north of the A6iago Tableland, and occupied tho dominating peaks, including the Portulo Eidge, 7000 feet above General Cadorna, with magnificent strategy and unflagging energy, prepared a trap from which tho Austriaii6 only just escaped in time. Four or live (lays' delay would have meant the cutting off of all the forces operating in. tho Asiago The Alpini commenced the oft'ensivo on .Tune 15, and further attacks followed until June 27, when tho Italians attacked along the entire front. Meanwhile they held all the enemy's first lino approaches under a heavy fire, and m-evented the Austrians from bringing up their reserves. The Austrians; Second ind Eighth Mountain Brigades and their Twenty-second Landwehr Division wero almost annihilated. Henceforth a.retreat was inevitable. During Sunday the Italians list contact with the enemy at many points, so great was tho Austrian haste to get away. - ■ GO-AVENGE YOUR COUNTRYMEN!" London, June 28. Tho "Diilv Telcraph's" l?omo correspondent says that the Austrians deserve credit in one respect-tho rapidity of the retreat. The Austrian offensive collapsed suddenly, and during the retreat they left every village in ashes, every cottage ft S EnglJmnmnuel was one of the first to set foot in tho, reconquered t.,wn. of Vsia-o Pointin" his sword to the unconqueml heights, he addressed each passing battalion: "Co" Avenge your countrymen!" ITALIAN PREMIER ON ALLIES' SOLIDARITY. (Eec. Juno 29, 10.25 p.m.) Rome, June 29. Signer Noselli (the Italian Premier), in a statement in the Italian Chamber of Deputes, emphasised tho close solidarity of the Allies and of the military operations. This statement had an excellent. reception throughout tho country.