CONTINUED ADVANCE OF THE ITALIANS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2812, 1 July 1916, Page 9

CONTINUED ADVANCE OF THE ITALIANS

STIFF FIGHTING BETWEEN THE ADIGE AND BRENTA ; ... DISLODGING THE ENEMY FROM THE PEAKS (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright). Rome, Jims 29. An Italian official communique states:—"The Austrian? made a violent attack at Zugna Torta, with a view to delaying .our advance. It was. repulsed with heavy loss. , "At Posina our advance was delayed owing to the heavy ground and the firs of the enemy batteries. We 'ultimately dislodged the Austrians from tho rocks, and reached Griso. We carried strong positions on Mount Majo. "Wo have penetrated the' Austrian; renches on the Carso." . (Rec. June 30, 10.15 p.m.) '' Rome, June 30. An Italian communique states: "Our; progress on Wednesday between the Adige and the .Brenta was continued, despite the.growing resistance of the enemy from-tho barrier positions, which he prepared beforehand.- . "Our AJpini in the Val Arsa- cajitured, after a desperate fighi,. Fort Matta.gone, while our infantry stormed, a ridge at Mont Trapola. •'•'"The enemy in'the e.vening.made.a violent attack on Zugna,. Torta, .but, .were 'Vepiilficd'with'the'heaviest'losses.. "Tue'difficulties of tbe'terraiif'on the''Posina'front, and-the enemy's heavy * artillei7,' ftave*'hampered 6ur offensive. Nevertheless, we .have carried'a : strong position at Cima Betta, on", the slopes of Monte Majo. "We occupied Pedesoala, in the Astico Valley. "The enemy lias strongly reorganised his fdrc.es at the northern end of the Assa Valley, and from' the heights on the left side of Galmarara Valley to Colagnella. The rugged and woody nature of the terrain is favourable-for machineguns, while from his positions farther to his rear, his heavy guns can sweep the'."', approaches. On Wednesday we completed the'occupation of tie southern edge of tho. Assn. Valley,'and captured strong entrenchments around the summits 6f Zebio and Zingarella. - * ■ ■ ■ "Our infantry in the Carso, in brilliant attacks, captured several trenches." Tho High Commissioner reports:— London, June 29, 6.25 p.m. An Italian report says:—"Between the Adige and the Brenta the Italians yesterday continued to advance, notwithstanding the increasing resistance of th< enemy as they reached their previously-prepared positions. ."At Val Arsa onr Alpine troops stormed l ? ort Mattassone, a detachment of the infantry carrying the ridge of Mount Tropola. "Along the Posina lino tho advance has been delayed by the. nature' of the ground and the fire of heavy batteries from Borcola, but we chased the enemy from the rocks and reached Griso,' carrying tho strong position of Betta, on Mount Majo." \ IN THE WAKE OF THE RETREAT COUNTRYSIDE STREWN WITH WRECKAGE. ' ' London, June 29. •The "Daily Telegraph's" correspondent with the Italians describes the Austrian efforts as wholesale vandalism. An earthquake or a cyclone, he says, couldhot have effected worse devastation. Tho Italians foun da.ii iraemnse quantity of furniture piled up'.in Asiago "in readiness for a bonfire, but the Austrians, hard pressed, had not lighted it.' They found hundreds of: Austrian wounded dying of thirst in caves in the'hillsides A colonel had left his parade, uniform, which, covered with decorations, had been prepared in readiness for a triumphant entry into Vicenza. ' It was reverently buried. ,A noble Austrian officer was found with his revolver at his forehead;' he had preferred suicide -<o the disgrace of defeat. The hurriedness of the retreat had permitted- only a" few burials, but-the line of retreat was marked by corpses over the graves. The Italians found wonderful collections of jflunder from Asiago, Camporovere, and Roana. "The victorious Italians, in a few days, reconquered moro than half tho territory the Austrians had invaded." AUSTRIAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. (Rec. Juno 30, 5.45 p.m.) Amsterdam, June 30. An" Austrian official communique states:—'"The Italians, after actively bombarding the whole of the Doberdo Platean with numerous heavy batteries, .attacked with the greatest violence. Very heavy fighting developed, especia.';near Samartino- Tho. battles continue. All tho enemy's attacks so far have been repulsed. . "Tho Italians also attacked tho Gorlzia bridgehead, and olsowbere." COLONEL REPINGTON'S VIEW OF THE SITUATION J (Rec. June 30, 10.40 p.m.) London, Juno 30. Colonel .Repington, the 'Times"-military critic, after visiting the Italian front, says:—'"The Italian counter-offensive was well launched. - the enemy're- ' treating along the whole of the Trentino front. An Italian detachment is al- . ready across the.Posina, and is threatening the enemy in several directions. I 'don't regard the Austrians as a routed army. They' have lost a few prisoners, . taken by the Italians. They have a series of strong positions to which li'ey can fall back, and are concentrating their front as they retire. They are entitled to respect", having, formidable artillery am" a <rreat number of machine-guns, and are sure to give a great deal of trouble. They will nrobably, eventually, fall back to their position to the eastward from which their offensive started. "The Italian army is strong as regards^numbers, in fine health, and in excellent spirits, while the country is enthusiastic at seeing that tho detested Austrians have been nearly driven out of Italy."