DECISIVE CONFLICT PENDING ON THE PLAVE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 50, 22 November 1917, Page 5

DECISIVE CONFLICT PENDING ON THE PLAVE

RIVAL ARMIES IN CONTACT

THREE POSSIBLE FORMS OF ATTACK

By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright

. . , London, November 20. An Italian semi-official messago states:—"By the attack on Monte Fenera and Monte Tomba, the enemy is now in contact with every point of tho line 011 which tho Italians have made their stand. Tho enemy's masses aro increasingly dense in several places. Movements of artillery and columns of troops are reported in various directions. A now phase is about to commence, and possibly tho enemy intends to tempt fortune by a grand strategic undertaking: (1) to rapidly break tho wings, with a view to surrounding tho Italians; (2) by slow and methodical wearing-down action; or (3) a series of hammer blowß similar to those delivered at Verdun. In any case, his recent serious losses must have convinced the enemy of tho impossibility of a dissolution of the Italian Army through lack of resistance. The Italian Army is preparing to face a great and imminent struggle, for which tho enemy is bringing up enormous forces and material."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. ITALIAN OFFICIAL REPORT (Rec. November 21, 8.5 p.m.) London, November 20. An Italian official report states:—"Wo drove back four mass attacks against tho Monfenra Spur. We took 300 prisoners on Sunday and Monday in the Mcleto region."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Reuter. INCIDENTS OF DESPERATE VALOUR Romo, November 20. ihe Austnans are making desperate attaoks in many places. On the night of November 17 a Ligurian brigade defeated heavy infantry attacks. A brigade of Bersaglieri and other troops in the Zenson loop and the Fagaro zone also drove back tho Austrians, capturing 1251 officers and men and 27 machine-guns.' The Austrians had crossed with the aid of wire-ropes, with which they dragged themselves through the current. The Italians were driven back at first, after desperate bayonet fighting, but, being reinforced, not only drove i the_ Austrians from the western bank of the Piave, but from a large island in mid-stream, which the Austrians had held for some days.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE ENEMY'S TACTICS (Rec. November 21, 7.30 p.m.) ir w i n • Rome, November 20. lirobatin s and Buelow s armies aro seeking to occupy the Grappa massif, where the Italians facing the north join the Piave armies. Its capture would enable the Austro-Germans to invade the Plain of Lombardy. The Italian Fourth Army, which is defending Grappa, and the First Army, which is de'™S Vastagna, aro holding Prince Conrad von Hotzendorif in check, while • i i Army, between Montello and the sea, is standing firm before Dorthvitch, whose vanguards are composed of armies under Generals Jurms and Sakas. When von Mackensen has got his heavy artillery between the Val Dobbiadeno and the sea, a great battle will bo fought for tho Piave line. Austro-German reinforcements continue to arrive. Tho Italians' morale and fighting spirit are at their highest. A series of successful counter-attacks characterised yesterday s fighting, the brunt of which took place in tho approaches to tho valleys in the eastern and south-eastern districts of tho Asiago tableland. In spite of stubborn resistance, the Italians made methodical progress, consolidated the reoaptured ground, and forced back the enemy a considerable distance at the head of the Mulo, taking four hundred prisoners. Bitter fighting occurrcd in tho zono between the Brenta and the 1 iave, especially at Monte Grappa, but this is only a preliminary engagement of the great enemy offensive. The enemy's aeroplanes aro dropping leaflets among the Italian troops, disavowing all idea of a conquest of Italian territory, and explaining that tho invasion, is pureh' a military measure.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. VERDUN "SHOCK TACTICS" (Rec. November 21, 8.5 p.m.) ~ T„ . ~ , ~ _ London, November 20. Mr. Jeffries thus describes Quero, which tho Austro-Germans claim to have stormed, as an all-important hinge between the armies facing the north and east. Tho battle of tho Piave is reaching its most critical stage. Tho enemy has brought up sufficient reinforcements to enablo him to use his Verdun "shock tactics 1 by denso massos, advancing liko a human batteringram. Thero were nine attacks in twenty-four hours eastward of Asiago. Most desperate efforts wore made by Krobatin's army round Quero and Tomba, ivhich wero tho scenes of surging battles and counter-attacks. It is believed that tho Allied troops aro engaged.—"The Times." "A RETREAT MAY BE UNAVOIDABLE." (Rec. November 21, 8.5 p.m.) , , London, November 20. Ihe limes correspondent says:—"A retreat may bo unavoidable, but our numerous successes havo inspirediho Italians with tho breath of victory. An Austrian brigade which crossed tlia Piave was annihilated. This defeat was largely due fo the tenacity of tho Bersaglieri, who fought all night in perishing cold, witli rilles and machiiie-.'iuns. They received supplies of bombs at daylight, upon which tho surviving Austrians surrendered." — "Ihe Times." THE GERMAN REPORT (Rec. November 21, 9 p.m.) London, November 20. A German official report states:—"Wo drovo back, after desperate fighting, strong Italian counter-attacks on the northern slopo of Monto Tomba."— Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Reuter.