STRATEGIC RESULT OF THE ITALIAN OFFENSIVE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2902, 14 October 1916, Page 9

STRATEGIC RESULT OF THE ITALIAN OFFENSIVE

Australian-New Zealand Cable Association.' (Rec. October 13, 5.15 p.m.) ' London, October 12. The "Daily Telegraph's" Rome correspondent states that no Italian attack had taken such lengthy preparation as the latest. Almost the .entire front from the Garda- to the sea was shell swept. The Austrians expected an offensive in the Carso, and not in the Trentino. The results in tho Trentino surpassed expectations, causing colossal losses. Three enemy battalions were wiped out in the eastern sector, and others in the southern. The strategic result was the breaking of the whole front north of l'asubio-Arsieio on a 30-mile front. The battle in the Carso continues with extraordinary' violence. Two Italian armies were engaged, and two hundred thousand' Austrians. The enemy's defences, were broken on a ten-mile front from :Vertoiba to Novastas. He is retreating, to; new lines, which are now. subjected to unceasing attacks! The Austrians' losses in -killed greatly exceed the number of prisoners and wounded.-' Entire units were entombed tho debris of the, trenches. . VBXTENgiON.OFITHJE.-BATTJLE '.OVER;.-A FIFTY-MItE FRONT. ' . . ' (Rcc. October l.'J, IG.iH p.m.) y , ■ „ , , R°WB, October 12: . ~The Battle of. the Carfo has.extended to.Plava, Tolmino, • and 'Monte Santomiihb, and now rages over a fifty-mi]e front; • • . . - - ENORMOUS FORCES ENGAGED IN THE-CARSO. BATTLE. - (Rec. Oct. 14, 1.5 a.m.) .... ■ . . Rome, October 13. : "Half a million in the Carso battle. Whereas tho Italiam offensive in October,-1915, was broken by Krupp and Skoda guns, the Italia-n artillery now is of'marked superiority. The Italian fire was continued all night long in the moonlight'on the'whole plateau, flames of fire rising from the deep ravines, enveloping hamlets and villages, and burning woods, turning the trenches into charnel-houses. The 'Austrians,followed a new plan of saving munitions for the moment of assault, when the barrage of firo was intense. l'rior to the attack the Austrian officers deprived the men of their handkerchiefs, but their eagerness to surrender was so great that the Austrians took off their shirts and waved tbem as signals. Many of tho prisoners declared that tbey had-been foodless for fifty hours. At least' 24,000 Austrians were killed, wounded, and made prisoners in two days. •