ITALIANS OCCUPY TWO MORE TOWNS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2849, 14 August 1916, Page 5

ITALIANS OCCUPY TWO MORE TOWNS

/ STRONG DEFENCES CAPTURED 'AUSTRIAN FORCES COMPLETELY ROUTED Australian-New"Zealand Cable Association. New York, August 11. A message from Koine states tliat tb« Italians have occupied Rubbia and San Martino del Carso. . [Rubbia is a small town on the-River Vippacco, a milo cast of the Isonzo, and just north of the Osrso Plateau. San Martino del Carso is on the plateau, two and a half miles south-east of Gradisca.] The High Commissioner reports: London, August 11, 11.10 p.m. Italian Official: On Thursday we captured very strong defences between the Vippacoo and Mount Cojich. The enemy was completely routed. The number of prisoners and quantity of material captured is continually increasing. - HUNGARIAN REGIMENT "ANNIHILATED AT GORIZIA. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. Rome, August 11. The Austrians retired to a line from Terrinove to the Vippacco River, but their heavy artillery has been withdrawn further. News from an Austrian source states that tho 11th Hungarian Regiment was annihilated at Gorizia. Scarcely a mail escapod. Nearly 7000 Italian women and children were found in the town in a starving condition. V STUBBORN AUSTRIAN OPPOSITION AT PODGORA. . Milan, August 11. The most stubborn Austrian opposition to tho advance on the Isonzo was at Podgora, west of Gorizia, where the Austrians emerged from caverns and inflicted heavy casualties on the attackers. The Italians drew a cordon round the position, and resumed tho advance on tho .organised defences at San Mioholo and other commanding portions. They saw the Austrians swarming on the roads out of Gorizia, with carts ajid motor-lorries. The Italian longrange guns opened fip on tho fugitives, spreading panic, death, and destructlon'The Italian advance at Gorizia covers an area thirt-ecn miles by three miles. . AUSTRIAN LOSSES EXCEED FIFTY THOUSAND. • Romo, August 11. The Austrians lost more - than fifty thousand in killed, wounded, and .prisoners in the two days of the fighting preceding the fall of Gorizia. ■ East of Gorizia fierce fighting on the Carso Plateau is in progress. Austrian prisoners report that the attack on Gorizia was a complete surprise. . , ' / ~ STIRRING SCENES DURING THE ITALIAN ENTRY INTO GORIZIA ENEMY WAS OVERWHELMED. IN ONE VICTORIOUS RUSE. (Rec. August 13, 6.5 p.m.) Milan, August 12. There wero stirring scenes during the Italian entry into Gorizia. After thb first-parties dashed across the fofds, the columns, followed in perfect order, headed by the troops, who bore the brunt of the sanguinary attack in 1915. The Austrians, ensconced on tho summits of Monte Santo and Monte San Gabrielle showed no activity until the artillery began to cross, a,nd the moment came to open. The Austrian' g™ s opened up an infernal fire, but the Italian gunners continued unperturbed. . . • Meanwhile the patrols approached "! e outskirts of Gorizia. Strong detachments of Austrian riflemen, lurking ln - the houses, kept up a strong machine-gun and riflo fire. The Italia^ 8 surrounded the houses, bombing them, and reduced the stronghold.' T he columns then entered the town in triumph. . , , .... . . , ' The Austrian commander, Zoiller, fore tln e Go »? la >, ordercd t!IG inhabitants to proceed to Latbach. Man /> whlle attempting to escape, were caught by our curtain fire. There w er6 ,£ ra § 10 , , scenes .- Women and children were terrified, and went rushing aero?? th ® refuging in rumed houses and dugouts, eventually returning to te ™.and hid m cellars, until the Italians brought deliverance. The It all:m cavalr y ahared thair food and water with the starving inhabitants. orl ,i i-r + . ■ •„ „ , The Austrians cut off. the water B u pply and llsM ' but tlle servloes were quickly reorganised. • . Vippacco continues. . Fifty big guns ■ The advance on both banks of the 01 . es df material in.excellent condition, have so far been captured, and huge st fche river . ofchers are operating on the Strong forces of cavalry have crossed nd Monfalcone ■ whole region southwards to Doberdo a a t the Austrians were completely sur- _ All evidence confirms the theory th. the Austrians believe his main effort prised at Gorizia. General Cadorna let en if he in tho Isonzo, Gori-. was still makuig for Irentino, and ev ate an a6sau General Cadorna ziawould be the last place to ant.cip of men and artillery to the Isonzo, swrftly and secretly transferred masse ~o us rus6j w hicli possibly explains and overwhelmed the on .J, om w i ienCo artillery might at least have S T!/pnr?7k much m°re difficult and costlier. The com- <'■« ««*•-» ■»*»«• strewn with-equipment of every description. BATTLE OF UNINTERRUPTED FIERCENESS IS PROCEEDING (Rec. 'August 13, 5.5 p.m.). U . The battle'in the Gorizia sector is proceeding with uninterrupted fierceness. Austrian reinforcement* are arriving from the Ruseiau_ front, and it is understood that Turks are being largely us<tf to fill the gaps. Our booty and prisoners are constantly increasing. A NEW ITALIAN i OFFENSIVE LAUNCHED . . (Rec. August 13, 5.5 p.m.) '■ Rome, August 12. A'new Italian offensive has been initiated in the Tolmino sector. It is believed that the fall of Tolmino is imminent. ENEMY MAKING A STAND ON THE HILLS NEAR GORIZIA. (Rec. August 13, 5.5 p.m.) ; Rome, August 12. .An Italian communique says: On tho Carso,we crossed the vallone ana carried tho western dopes of Mount Nadlogen and tho summit of Ornihrid. The enemy, after receiving reinforcements, continued to hold tho hills east of Gorizia,'supported by heavy artillery. We carried a new position at Mount Tofana. , t ' ' STRONG DEFENCES CAPTURED BY THE ITALIANS. Tho High Commissioner reports:— London, August 11, 11.10 p.m. Official. —On Thursday tho Italians captured very strong defences between Vippacco'and Mount Cosich. The enemy was completely routed. A number of prisoners apd a quantity of material was captured, and is' continually increasing. , ' \ NOISELESS HOWITZER USED BY THE ITALIANS. Australian-Star ZefllCftblo Associ 3,tioD. (Rec. August 13, 5.5 p.m.) Amsterdam, 'August 12. _ Vienna papers report that the Italians used a new howitzer, which is almost noiseless. Tho Austrians were unaware of its being fired until the shell was almost on the point of exploding. THE WHOLE DOBERDO PLATEAU IN ITALIAN HANDS. (Keillor's Telegram.) (Ilcc. August 12/6.30 p.m.) .. Romo, August 3,1. 'v Official. —We have occupicd'the whole of tlio Doberdo Plateau, and have reached the line of the Vallone, eastward of which the enemy was completely routed and Tetired after being driven out of the strongest defences in the San Michele and San Martino sector. , Two persons were killed and somo damago was done by a hostile air raid on Venice. • SEAPLANE RAID ON VENICE. (Reo. August 12, 6.30 p.m.) London, August 11. An Austrian communique says: Twenty seaplanes dropped 35 ton's of bombs on Venice, doing great damage, and causcd a dozen fires. One, at a cotton mill, was visible for twenty miles. SERIOUS DAMAGE TO A CHURCH. Ausf,rnlian-Ncw Zealand Cable Association. (Rec. August 13, 5.5 p.m.) Paris, August 12. Tho 'Austrian air raid on .Vcnice did serious damage to the Church' of Santa Maria;

GRAVE POLITICAL CRISIS IN AUSTRO.HUNGARY.

(Rec. August 13) 5.5 p.m.) Ccneva, August 12. AH reports agree that tlierc is a grave politioal crisis in Austro-Hun-gary over the lsonzo disaster, which has demoralised the Government and shattered public confidence. The principal, Hungarian leaders have arrived in Vienna. RIOTING REPORTED IN VIENNA. (Rec. August 12, 8.20 p.m.) Rome, August 12. Rioting is reported in Vienna, following the Russo-Italian successes. Two regiments were ordered, and refused, to lire on or charge the rioters. i