CONTINUED BRILLIANT SUCCESS OF THE ITALIANS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3095, 28 May 1917, Page 5

CONTINUED BRILLIANT SUCCESS OF THE ITALIANS

22,419 PRISONERS TO DATE

MASTERS OF THE NEXT MOVE

The High Commissioner reports :— ~ - London, May 25, 9.20 p.m. in Italian'official message states: "The battle still rages on the Julian front from tho sea to Pluva. Yesterday, advancing over very difficult ground, we fought yard by vard through a deep labyrinth of enemy fortifications, which wero stubbornly defended, and achieved further brilliant successes. The total of prisoners counted on Wednesday and Thursday is 10,215, including 31 (i officers. Much war material was also captured." ■ The High Commissioner reports:— • „,'„„.' London, May 2l>, 0.20 p.m. An Italian official report states: "On the Carso front heavy fighting still continues. Another strong position, with 3500 prisoners and much war material, lias been captured. A network of trenches extending to the eastwards of Jamiano, and also'the heights of Flondar (440 ft.), and Medoazza (030 ft.), have been taken. Northwards, after severe hand-to-hand fighting, the enemy's defences and a labyrinth eastwards of Boscomalo and Broken Hill, and the trenches round Castagnavizza, were taken. Northwards of Tivoli, our positions wero extended to Vodice.. "The enemy's attempt to dislodge us from the important Hill No., 852 failed, and the position is still firmly held by us. After a violent artillery bom. bardment, dense masses of tho enemy made repeated and stubborn attacks, but were driven back time and again, with heavy losses. Over" 300 prisoners were taken. At Plava we made further progress towards the Rogat Valley in the Julian 'region. * ■ ' "The total number of prisoners taken between-May 11 and yesterday totals 22,419.". , , .

SURPRISE TACTICS CARRIED THE DAY.

WAY'OPEN TO TRIESTE.AND LAIBACH,

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright)

(Rcc. May 27, 5.5 p.m.)

: London, Mar 25. Eeuter's correspondent learns' officially that no fewer than ten Austrian divisions, comprising one hundred battalions, were concentrated between tho sea and Boscomalo, the -scene of the great offensive. Tho success of tho Italian attack is attributed to their surprise tactics. The Austrians expected a long artillery preparation, but the Italians advanced after only ten hours' bombardments The heaviest attacks were on a front of eight kilometres (5 miles), and the greatest advance was over two kilomotres (1$ miles). The part played by the air service constitutes a record for the Italian air fleet, 140 units of which wcro engaged.—Renter. • .Semi-official.—"The Italians bave now mastered the whole zone between Castagnavizza and the sea. Only tho Herrnada stronghold stands between the coast .and the road to the Comen Plateau, and Italian action towards Trieste and Laibach is now possible."—Reutcr.

THRILLING DESCRIPTION OF THE BATTLE

AUSTIUANS SURRENDER EN MASSE. London, May 2-5. Mr. Pei'oival Gibbon (the "Daily Telegraph's" war correspondent), telegraphing on May 2f, says: "Yesterday was the anniversary of Italy's entry into the war. The Third Army initiated the now year of fighting'by an. advance over the 'horrible stone wastes of the Carso. Its immediate objective was a sharp Austrian salient from Castagnavizza, through the ruined hamlet of Hiidi Log (or Boscomalo), across the stony hills to tho sea. The enemy lines were built into stone trenches quarrieed out of the solid rock; even the barbed wire was' held up by iron standards cemented into stono. For ten hours a redhot hailstorm of shells of every calibre remorselessly kneaded the Austrian line. The Italian infantry's charge came at four o'clock. The Austrians immediately replied with a shrapnel barrage. It. might have been confetti for all tho efl'eel: it had \ipon tho chargers-dust-eaked men, looking horrible in gas-masks 'and steel casques— as they dashed to tho enemy trenches. In tho shattered village of Luicatino thero was not a. Single Austrian survivor after the Italians had rushed with their bayonots. Tho .village of .lamia.no was a system of vast subterranean shelters, where the garrison was packed like sardines during tho bombardment. Here tho Austria™ surrendered en masse. Two thousand were taken in the first rush, and before morning the commanders of tho prisoners' cages were wildly telegrophing for assistance. Nino thousand prisoners have already been counted. Many of the Austrians had just arrived from tho Russian front."—Ans.N.Z. Cable Assn. ONLY 13 MILES FROM TRIESTE London, May 25. Tho tactical result of the Italian victory is that tho Italians fought their way to the lower rocky terraces descending tho Carso to tho Adriatic, thus securing a firm hold'of the coast road and railway to Trieste, which is only thirteen miles from the point attained. They also made important gains near Gorizia, capturing the formidable Monte Santo ; A semi-official message from Rome states that with the object ot assisting the offensive on the Carso, British monitors, with naval forces, and Italian aeroplanes, made an effective attack from tho Gulf of Venice on the rear of the enemy's lines, especially on a great air station and depots and other important", military objects near Frosecco.-Reutcr. BIUTISH MONITORS' EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE. (Rec. May 27, 5.5 p.m.) Rome, May 25. Semi-official —"The British monitors which are assisting in tho Carso offensive'delivered a prolonged and effective attack on the Gulf of Trieste, in the rear of the Austrian linos, especially on the enemy aviation depots. iTho enemy's only ittemnt it interference' consisted of an aerial attack. AVo brougiit down two seaplanes. All the Anglo-Italian units returned unscathed." Other reports state that the Austrians employed one hundred thousand troops in tho Isonzo bnttle on AVeduesday, and of these ono-third -worn annihilated.— Aiis.-N.K. Cable Assn. EFFECTIVE AIR RAID. (Rec. May 27, 5.5 p.m.) London, May 25. An Italian official report states: "Our aircraft effectively bombed the station of Santa Lucia, at. Tolmino. Threo of the enemy's machines were brought down." -Aus.-iWZ. Cablo Assn.-Eeulor.

COUNT TISZA'S DOWNFALL

, , „ ~., , London, May 25. The "Dailv Chronicles Milan correspondent states that Iho downfall of Count, Tisza, Hungarian Premier, iras tlio result, of the Emperor's refusal lo accept his Reform Bill, which proposed to extend fcho franchise to .10,000 men only, which tho Emperor realised was ridiculous. Count Tisza, held his sway in ('.lie Hungarian Chamber by a compact; mainly of 300, who wore mostly 'bribod-Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Aesu.

DEMANDS J3Y THE CZECHS

(Rec. 'May 17, 5.5 pan.)

■ ' Amsterdam, May 23. Olio hundred and fifty prominent Czech, authors and professional meii havo issued a manifosto to the' Czech deputies in Parliament, insisting that they shouUl obtain constitutional guarantees. The manifesto declares that many of the Czech representatives have been imprisoned, and even condemned to. death, nud demands an amnesty for all political .prisoners. The Emperor Karl has given an audience to tho Hungarian Opposition leaders. Tho latter suggested that General tho Archduke Josef should bo entrusted with the formation of ft Cabinet.

RUSSIA'S SOLEMN HOUR

KERENSKI THE HOPE OF THE SITUATION

WAR MINISTER GOES TO THE FRONT

(Rec. May 27, 5.5 p.m.)

London, May 26. Tho "Daily Chronicle's" correspondent at Petrograd stated: "M. Kerenski (Minister of War)' has jjone to the front. His influenco and power will now be put •to the supreme test. Russia has unbounded confidence in M. Kerenski, believing that ho alone can rescue tho country from rum and shame. Ho has completely won over the Council of Workmen and Soldiers to tho necessity for defeating the enemy, but it would be unwise to base over-sanguine hopes on that. The lmproTemont in the'situation at the capital is not reflected in the army at the front, where the pacifists 'are leaving no stone unturned to persuade the troops that they are fighting merely to extend the Allies' wealth and possessions. One thing is wanted to defeat these intrigues, namely, a decisivo reply from England and I'h-ance to these pacifist contentions. Tho Russian soldiers are ready to shed the last drop of blood for their ideals, but they must first be convinced that tho Allies'* aims are equally idealistic."-A.us.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

WHAT MAY HAPPEN IN THE CAUCASUS

(Kec. May 27, 5.5 p.m.)

Pctrograd, May 28.

M Kerenski (War Minister), speaking prior to his departure for the front, publicly announced that a Russian retirement in Armenia would involve not only too danger of losing Armenia but possibly part of the Caucasus also, the Government ho added, had promised to publish a disciplinary code for the Kussian .Army next week.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

ALEXIEFP SPEAKS OUT

AND RAISES THE IRE OF THE SOCIALISTS

(R«c. May 27, 5.5 p.mi)

London, May 2(1. The "Daily Express" correspondent at Petrozrad •states: .General Alexicff (Kussian Chief of Staff), in a speech to Army officers, said that a peace without annexations or contributions would be Otopmn. , In a bulletin the Council of Workmen's and Soldiers, Delegates thereupon accused General AJexieff of sowing sedition and recalled the fact that he hud served the old regime. "The Government," lUsays, "will know how to. put this presumptuous, garrulous General in his place. Other newspapers praise General AlexioAfor telling tho naked truth. Many of the soldiers now consider the removal of the Grand Duke fcicholas to have been an unfortunate-blunder. Admiral Kolchay, commandrag the .Black .Sea fleet, who is a man of striking personality., is often mentioned as a possible leader against, the growing anarchy.-Aus.-fc./. Cable Assn.

MILITARY ANARCHY IN THE INTERIOR

HOW "RULE BY KINDNESS" IS'WORKING OUT.

(Roc. May 27, 5.5 p.m.)

London, May 26. The "Morning root's" correspondent at Petrograd stales: "It is estimated that Russia has from ten to twelve million men with the colours and m various stT-es of trainin". Only a small percentage of this strength is on the fignhng fronts Inspired by the example of the revolutionaries elsewhere many bodies pf soldiers in the interior are running amok. A force of twenty thousand recently seized a South Russian estate (? the Tsars)-; another party seized tho town of ThariHiii on tho Volga, a place with a population of one hundred thousand, and «emnided a conWbution of 11 million roubles (roughly, 4110,000 odd) for their wn purposes. The soldiers also seined tho Volga steamers. Despite these happening*- Russia still cherishes the belief that the Empire can be ruled by kindness !"—Aus.-N.SS. Cabl6 Assn.

A BRITISH LABOUR M.P.'S IMPRESSIONS

MR. WILL THORNE IS HOPEFUL. (Rec. May 27, 5.5 p.m.) • London, May 25. Sl'r Will Thornc M.P., has arrive<l from '.Russia. He said that »ta hii reached Russia the military situation was gloomy, anil the political situation nexl cable, but there had been a material improvement-in consequence of our active propaganda. 11. Kerenski, who was primarily responsible for the coalition move, is one of the most popular and strongest ot the modern Russians and'his influence should reassure the All.es. "I am more than ever hopetul about the military and political situation/ he eaul.-Aus.-fc./. Cable Assn. _ ECHO OF A FORGOTTEN MUTINY. (Rec. May 27, 5.5 p.m.) " ' Petrograd, May 26. V tolci'im from Odessa repoi-ts the exhumation of the remains of Lieutenant Sfhinidtv Tsadov of tho mutiny on the warship Potemkin in July, 1903, and his ti, .„! Immninm who were shot. The revolutionaries exhumed the bodies on Tlley will be reinterred at SeMtopol. The bodies were carried through Odessa, en route to-the Crimea,