BRILLIANT ASSAULT BY ITALIAN INFANTRY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2879, 18 September 1916, Page 6

BRILLIANT ASSAULT BY ITALIAN INFANTRY

A NEW OFFENSIVE ©PENED SUCCESSFUL OPERATIONS IN THE CARSO . Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. London! September 15. !Aji Italian official communique states : "Our heavy artillery and.trench' mortars bombarded the enemy east of Gorizia. and on the Carso. , In torrential rain we stormed positions east of Valona, taking some lines of entrenehi ments. Yesterday we took 2000 prisoners. Our attacks are proceeding satisfactorily,-and vie are extending our possession of tho crest of Mount Cauriol." . (Reo. September 17, 5.5 p.m.) Romo, September 16. !An Italian official communique states: "Our Alpine troops climbed a pre•cipiee to Mount Cauriol and captured its. strongly-defended summit, a height of. 7727 feet, killing hearty all the Tyrolcso-Alpme defonders, and takiil£ the rest prisoner." ■ ' . _ Rome, September 17. An Italian official communique 6tates: "Our left wing captured the San Crado height from a strong garrison. Further south, large entrenohments were taken near Loquizza and east of Oppachiarella. We took 1100 prisoners." STIRRING ACCOUNT OF BRILLIANT CHARGE (Rec. September 17, 5.5 p.m.) _ Rome, September 16. The Italian success on Friday was achieved under the worst of weather conditions. The artillery heavily shelled tho enemy's lines from east of Gorizia to the sea, despite the thick mist, which, rendered observation of fire difficult.' Towards midday the mist thinned, and the lines became visible. The Italian-- bombardment :was • intensified, but it was still impossible to use' the aircraft to observe the effect. The infantry accordingly was sent forward for that purpose, and discovered several new linos of entanglements in hedges, and undergrowth. A further bombardment was therefore necessary. The main attack was delivered at three o'olock in the afternoon, and explosive tubes enlarged the gaps in the entauglemonts. Torrential rain was inundating ; the ground, but the Italian infantry rushed tho enemy's lines east of Vallono, "■ ascended the slopes of the crest, which the Austrians had strongly defonded— it constituted the chief line of defence—and broke through 'at several points, taking prisoner 2200 in this operation alono. AUSTRIAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. (Kec. September 16, 7.30 p.m.)' . Amsterdam) September 16. An Austrian official communique states: "The Italians have opened a new offensive, chiefly directed, against the Cargo plateau. Their artillery and mino 6to increased to greater violence and strong infantry forces in denso formation attacked our whole front between Wippaco and the sea. The fighting was fierce, and although the enemy penetrated parts of our first-line trenches, maintaining their ground here and there, this first assault must be regarded as a failure. We repelled attacks, westward of Oimadce, Val Maggiore. and the Fleims Valley, taking prisoners." (R«uteT's Telegram.) (Rec. September 17, 11.5 p.m.) .. .. . Amsterdam, September 17. An Austrian official communique admit* a alight ga j n by tho Italians in the Garso sector. The Alpini captured a pomt-d'appiu westward of ' the summit of Cauriol."