ITALIAN MINE FIRED

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3118, 23 June 1917, Page 9

ITALIAN MINE FIRED

BRILLIANTLY SUCCESSFUL OPERATIONS AUSTRIAN HOLD WEAKENED IN TEENTINO IMPORTANT POSITIONS SEIZED The. High Commissioner reporterLondon, .Tune 21, G. 20 p.m. Italian official report: —"Last evening, in. tho Val Casteau, wo exploded a powerful mine on a spur of Piccolo Lagazuoi. The explosion blew up the position and destroyed tho garrison. In tbo following assault we carried tho summit of Hill 2668, and established ourselves firmly." CAPTURE OF ORTIGAVA A BRILLIANT COUP (Bee. June 22, 8.15 p.m.) London, June 21. The "Daily Telegraph" correspondent at Milan says:—"The brilliant capturo of Monte Ortigavn is the sequel to tho capture of tho Agnella l'nss on June 10. Heavy storms and tho worst kind of weather interrupted the operations for eight days, but the preparations were completed in the interval for another dash. The attack covered eight miles of front, consisting of lofty peaks. The. loss of ifonte Ortigava delivere the Italians at once bulwarks protecting tho Sugana. Valley. The Austrian positions on the Asiago Plateau are now reduced to a narrow strip north of Asiago, which, will probably prove to be untenable if the Italians make a further advance on Ortigava."—Aus.-JJ.Z. Cable-Assn. BATTLE OF "EXTRAORDINARY MAGNITUDE. Rotterdam, June 21. The "Kolnische Zeitung" correspondent states that a battle of extraordinary magnitude has begun along the whole front from tho Sugana Valley to Asiago. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. HOW THE AIRMEN HELPED. [T?ec. June 22, 6.30 p.m.) London, June 21. A feature of the Italians' success on tho Asiago Plateau was the employment of 115 aeroplanes, which threw five and a. half tons of air torpedoes on the enemy's communications.—lienter. ITALY'S WAR AIMS STATEMENT BY THE FOREIGN MINISTER (Eec. June 22, 9.-S5 p.m.) Rome, June 22. Baron Sqnnino (Italian Foreign Minister), speaking in the Chamber of Deputies, said that Italy adhered to the Allies' war aims respecting Belgium, Serbia, Montenegro, and Poland. Italy also favoured the independence of Albania, and was willing to guarantee full intor-nation autonomy. He pointed out an over-strict interpretation of the phrase "no-indemnities, no annexations," could be utilised to justify and prolong all past violence. Italy herself did not seek conquests, but safe national frontiers, ■ 'which wore needed for her future independence and development—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.