CONTINUED SUCCESS OF THE ITALIANS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3098, 31 May 1917, Page 5

CONTINUED SUCCESS OF THE ITALIANS

PRESSING THE ENEMY IN THE JULIAN ALPS.

TRIESTE TO BE HELD "AT ALL COSTS" The High Commissioner reports:An Italian official report states :-"At Plava the. cnomy has been driven to tho end of the valley, to the east of Globna; we have taken 100 prisoners. In tho Julian Alps our captures since May 14 amount to 28,691 prisoners, including 604 officers, 3G guns (including 13 heavy guns), 148 machine-guns, 2< trenchmortars, and a largo quantity of other material. On tho south-east slope ot Vodiee wo are overcoming tenacious resistance; the enemy is hidden in eaves. Wc have made important progress, and have established our positions. ENEMY'S OPPOSITION WEAKENING (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright). i . Rome, May 29. Notwithstanding the unfavourable weather, the advance on tho Carso front continues. Tho Austrian opposition has diminished, owing to the colossal losses. The corpses of tho enemy choke the ravines and grottoes. An enormous amount of material has been captured. Two entire Hungarian divisions have been practically annihilated in the recent Bghting.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Awn. "' THE GREAT BATTLE-FRONT REVIEWED TREMENDOUS DIFFICULTIES OF THE ADVANCE. London, May 29. 4. British correspondent who has v isited the Italian front, after reviewing tho position of the armies, says:—"Tho battle is essentially one of infantry. The folds of hills, gullies, and peaks protect the Austrian machine-gunners from the Italian guns, compelling tho in fantry to do most of the work against the strongly-placed machino-guns, of which the Austrians have large supplies. The Austrian artillery does little counter-attack work, conserving its shells for defensive barrages during attack. Ther 0 are indications that the Austrians have withdrawn many guns from these regions. I saw eighteen thousaud prisoners, mostly Dalmatians, Czechs, and Hungarians, of all ages, from eighteen to fortyfive; but 90 per cent, of them were between twenty-two and thirty-two. I was struck by their musoular and healthy appearance, whifih showed that they had not suffered from shortago of food." Tho writer says that a lull in the fighting is necessary lor the preparation, of a further offensive, particularly in th is regiou, where the skill of tho Italian sappers alone makes war possible. Ridge after ridge must bo systematically bought at their price until the gates aro unlocked. Perhaps for months ahead every trench must bo blasted from the rock. Miles of tunnels exist. None can question the valour of tho Italians, nor the heartiness of the war effort. Italy's mobilisation figures would astonish the world — Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. EMPEROR IN A FURY ' Rome, May 29. It is learned that the Austrian Em peror returned from the Isonzo front in a 6tate of fury and despair at the Austrian failure to resist the offensive. The Emperor ordered tho dismissal of the general commanding the Kuk sector (south of Plava), where the losses totalled 14,000 in a single day—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. - AUSTRIANS DECIDED TO DEFEND TRIESTE BITTER ANTI-GERMAN FEELING IN VIENNA. . Rome, Slay 29. The "Corriere d'ltalia'e" correspondent at Zurich states that the' Austrian General Staff, in a council of war at Laibach, decided, to defond Trieste at all costs, although von Falkenhayn and von Lundendorff, considering the situaion hopeless, advised its abandonment and a withdrawal to a stronger lino of defence. Thoir advice, for political reasons, was not accepted in Vienna, where bitter anti-German feeling prevails.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn, SPEECH BY COUNT TISZA WILL RELENTLESSLY OPPOSE ELECTORAL REFORMS. (Itec. May 30, 8.40 p.m.) Berne, Mar '-9. Count Tisza (ex-Premier of Hungary), in a speech to his followers explaining his resignation, declared that his electoral proposals represented tho maximum concession consistent with safety. "Wo cannot," he said, "accept a project which menaces Magyar political supremacy. If my successor, under (he Emperor's influence, proposes moro extonsivo reforms, wo will oppose them relentlessly. It is not for the King, but the Hungarian nation, to decide this ques-tion."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE POSITION OF THE, AUSTRO-GERMAN ALLIANCE. (Itec. May 30, 8.40 p.m.) Berne, Mav ''9 An official message from Berlin slates that Austria-Hungary has formally assured Germany that the Ministerial changes in Hungary will -not weaken the Austro-Gerinan Alliance. The Emperor Karl will not toler'ato a Premier who will not support the faithful fulfilment of tho Dual Monarchy's obligations to Ger-many.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.