THE NEW ITALIAN OFFENSIVE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2880, 19 September 1916, Page 5

THE NEW ITALIAN OFFENSIVE

FURTHER SUCCESSES IN THE CARSO j ' Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. Rome, September 17. The enemy was driven from the rkdit bank of the Brenta, and his coun-ter-attacks heavily defeated. Our Alpini extended their gains on Mount Cauriol. Our troops in the Ca.rso oontinued to press the attacks against the enemy's powerful lines, and we stormed and capturcd further entrenchments on a wide front!, taking 800 prisoners. FURTHER IMPORTANT CAPTURES. (Rec. September 10, 1.5 a.m.) London, September 18. An Italian semi-official report states: "During the fighting on September 14 and 16 the Italians on the Carso captured important positions between Vippacco and the sea, takjng 4000 prisoners." HOW THE ITALIANS PREPARED FOR THE STROKE (Rec. September 18, 5.5 p.ni.) , . - Milan, September 17. During the months following tho fall of Gorizia, thirty thousand Italian engineers toiled day- and night, mostly under fire, constructing cement platforms for heavy guns, laying light railways, and broad, paved highways for automobiles and artillery. , Thus a thousand guns, concentrated on a fifteenmilo front, 1 prepared tho way for the recent advance. Tho Italian troops advanced crouching behind steel shields. The foromost lino consisted of sappers, carrying long tubes of explosive gelatine, with which they completed the demolition of the wire defonces. A largo number of Austri'ans wl\o rushed down tho slopes" towards the Italians w ero shelled by their own- artillery. Waving their handkerchiefs, they speedily reached the Italian communication trenches. BRILLIANT FEAT BY THE ALPINI. (Rec. September 18, 5.5 p.m.) . . Rome, September 17. An Italian semi-official message describes, a. brilliant feat by the Alpini in the Fiemrae Alps. A thickly-wooded height, 6000 feet high, ending in a perpendicular wall, scarred by steep fissures, was. considered "before the war to be unnegotiable. The Alpini used successive iron footholds, scaled the vortical walls north-east of Mount Cauriol, and tushed the trenches with tho bayonet. They were thrice repulsed, but finally capturcd the whole position. Tho stubborn Tyroleso defenders wore all killed, except ono hundred, who were tak'on prisoners. AUSTRIAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. (Rcc. September 19, 1.5 a.m.) Amsterdam, September 18; 'An Austrian official communique states: "The Italians continue, their attacks day and night. Our front is unshaken. The enemy south-east of Doberdo Lako continually brought ui> fresh troops and penetrated our lines. Fighting at close quartors turned tho battle in our favour."