COUNTER-STROKE ON THE ISONZO

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2846, 10 August 1916, Page 5

COUNTER-STROKE ON THE ISONZO

AUSTRIAN LINE TORN OPEN GREAT OFFENSIVE MOVEMENT BY THE ITALIANS ' Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. Rome, August 8. An Italian official communique states:—"The Italians liave captured Mount Sabotino, and tlio San .Michele bridgehead at Gorizia, and are shelling the town.' Eight thousand prisoners were taken on August 6 and 7 (Sunday and Monday), and also 11 guns and 100 machine-guns." HUGE GAP TORN IN THE AUSTRIAN LINE. \ • Rome, August 8. The offensive on the Isonzo lias i esulteu in tho enemy lino being penetrated on a front of nineteen miles. Italian destroyers sholled the coast. Italians are fighting a great offensive on tho Isonzo and the Carso, on a sixty miles front. They had prepared for it for several weeks, and the action began oil Friday morning. After a violent bombardment, which" destroyed "tile enemy trenches and fortifications, file infantry charged and, captured the first and second systems of the defence. Tho enemy first made & strong, resistance, and then fled. Tho fighting was most violent on the Gorizia and Monfalcono sectors. . A numoerof Hungarian and Croatian units surrendered. Four thousand prisoners had been, captured tip to Sunday, and they contniue to comc in by thousands. TERRIFIC ARTILLERY BOMBARDMENT STRONG MOUNTAIN POSITIONS CARRIED IN A FEW MINUTES. ("The Times.") ' i ' (Hoc. August 9, 10.40 p.m.) . , London, August 9. The "Timeis" correspondent at Italian Headquarters says;—" General Cadorna's offensive on tho Isonzo displays wonderful breadth and conception. The Austrians havo been completely surprised, the Italians gaining many positions which would previously havo caused a year of struggle. . The attack commenced with a fearful bombardment from Mante Santo to Monfalqpno, the now batteries on the mountain heights raining shells. Sabotine, which is over 2000 feet high, dominates Gorizia. The Italian infantry emerged from secretly constructed tunnels and galleries in the mountain side and assaulted jrith incredible rapidity, carrying the first threo lines of trenches in twenty minutes, and the redoubt on tho summit in an hour. The pursuit is continuing down the slopes straight to tho Isonzo. The four peaks of San Michele surrendered, unconditionally un tier the fire from Sabotine. % ■. ' HIGH COMMISSIONER'S, REPORT, , The High Commissioner reports:— London, August 8, 12.15 p.m. "In the Lagarina Valley thero lias been intonsa artillery aotivity. On the Asiago Plateau a lieavy attack by the enemy in the llonte Zebio .area was repulsed. In the Upper Cordevolo Valley the enemy, after intense bombardment, .renewed his efforts against our positions on Monte Sief, but each time was repulsed "with lieavy loss. ' "On, tho_ Lower Isonzo and Gorizia front, hot. fighting continues at Monte Sabotina, and San Michel©;, tho; enemy's strongholds have now been ■completely captured, as well as the Gorizia bridgehead. Our artillery is shelling tho town, driving tho enemy out. During ffie figWng on Sunday and Monday we took over 8000 prison ers ; including 200, officers, with" eleven guns, 100 machine-guns, and much material." AUSTRIAN RETIREMENT ON THE ISONZO ADMITTED, Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. (Rcc. August 9, 8.5 p.m.) Amsterdam, August 9. An Austrian official communiquo states:—"ltalians, to the number of 2932 were taken prisoner at the Gorizia bridgehead, but owing to the enemy's repeated an<J desperato attacks, the defenders wero withdrawn to tho eastern bank of the Isonzo." ' * I GREAT REJOICINGS IN ITALY (Rcc. August 9, 11.20 p.m.) * , Rome, August 9. Tliero are great rejoicings hero over tho success of the Italian offensive. Its beginning had been whispered since Friday, and the results have been eagerly and anxiously awaited, the Italians hoping that tbey would soon place to th'eir credit successes comparable with tho Somme,. Verdun, Galicia, Rnd, Egypt. The succoss on tho Isonzo cxcecds anticipation. Towns are beflagged, and processions parade the streets. the people believing that the fall of Gorizia., so oftcn'dcclarcd tp be imminent, is at last about to become an accomplished fact. THE SEA-FIGHT IN THE ADRIATIC New York, August 8. A wireless message from Berlin states that 'Austrian torpedo boats and tho cruiser Aspern engaged an Italian cruiser and six destroyers in the Adriatic on August 2. Tho Austrian Admiralty claims that the Italians retired.