FIERCE BATTLE ON THE ASIAGO PLATEAU

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 79, 27 December 1917, Page 5

FIERCE BATTLE ON THE ASIAGO PLATEAU

COUNTER-ATTACKS ARREST ENEMY'S PROGRESS ABANDONED BATTERIES AND MACHINE-GUNS RECOVERED

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. December 26, 5.5 p.m.) London, December 25. 1 An Italian official message states: "The Asiago Plateau battle continued fiercely and sanguinarily throughout the day. Our counter-attacks succeeded in arresting the enemy. Wo recovered batteries and machine-guns abandoned 1 in previous fighting. Our fire destroyed a column advancing from Bertigo. We recovered and held' for some time the summit of Monto val Bella. We also ascended the slopes of Col del Rosso, and engaged the enemy, under the summit, in a heavy hand-to-hand fight."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. ENEMY CONCENTRATIONS BETWEEN THE BRENTA AND THE PIAYE. (Rec. Decombcr 27, 0.20 a.m.) London, Decombcr ?6. Mr. Ward Price says serious fighting in tho new sector of the Asiago Plateau, left of the Frenzela Valley, and nearer the Brenta, aims at winning •ground to preserve the regularity of advance of the whole enemy line. The or tiro German force appears to bo'concentrated with Austrians between the Brenta and tho Pinve. Tho enemy is evidently thinning the troops piong the Piavo with a view to increasing bis strength on tho mountain sector.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. SURPRISE ATTACK BY AUSTRIAN DIVISIONS A BREAK THROUGH PREVENTED. (Rec. December 26, 11.15 p.m.) London, December 25. Mr. Julius Price, writing from Italian Headquarters, says that Auttrian divisions from tho Russian front delivered a surprise attack to the southeast of Siscmol, and spreading Hong the Asiago Plateau. Tho weight of number forced the Italians from two positions, fighting every yard, but a break thioiigh was prevented. Prisoners state that the weather conditions are very bad and sevorely cold. Tho Auetrians wcro urged to continue tho fight in the hops of soon reaching the. plains and sunshine.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE WORK OF THE BRITISH TROOPS. London, December 25. A British official report from the Italian front states:,"Since a portion of the Italian front was taken over, active patrol and counter-battery work has been conducted, and our airmen have given a good account of themselves. Severe cold prevails."—Atis.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. / GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORTS. London, December 25. A Gorman official report dated December 24 states: "Between Asiago and the Brenta River wo stormed the Col del Rosso Heights, and those adjoining to the west and east, and took 6000 prisoners."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable ■ Assn.-Reuter. (Rec. December 26, 5.5 p.m.) London, December 25. A German official message states: "We repulsed counter-attacks on our newly-won positions, and made a thrust at Monte Pertica. The total number of prisoners taken by us at Col del Rosso is 9000."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.Reuter. THE *RUSSO-GERMAN PEACE CONFERENCE o BOLSHEVIK DELEGATES EXPOUND THEIR PRINCIPLES PROLONGATION OF THE WAR A SIN AGAINST HUMANITY , (Rec. December 26, 8.5 p.m.) Petrograd. December 25. The Bolsheviki at Brest Litovsk expounded the principles of their terms at great length; especially the meaning of annexation as acquisition against tho will of the inhabitants, no matter how expressed-. Russia would consider it a crime against humanity to prolong the war to enable wealthy nations to victimise the weak. The Germans apparently were silent. Dr. Kuhlmann secured an adjournment for the preparation of a reply.—"The Times." ! THE RUSSIANS' DEMANDS BRITISH AMBASSADOR REBUTS TROTSKY'S CHARGES. (Rec. December 27, 1.40 a.m.) London, December 20. The "Daily News" Petrograd correspondent says it is understood the Germans will reply to Russia's peace demands on Tuesday. The Russians demanded:— . . • (1.) Conquered territories must ho evacuated as soon as possible. (2.) Restoration of political independence to conquered countries. (3.) Nationalities which had not political independence before tho war shall decide the matter by referendum. (•I.) No indemnities. (a.) Economic boycotts and commercial treaties restricting the fieedom of weaker nations are intolerable. The British Ambassador publishes a statement rebutting Trotsky's abusive charges of interference in international and Russian affairs. He points out . that there are three republics in Russia, and it is difficult to avoid the appearance of having relations with more than one.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. COALITION GOVERNMENT AGREED UPON CONSISTING OF MAXIMALISTS AND SOCIAL REVOLUTIONARIES. Potrograd, December 25. Tho Maximalists and Social Revolutionaries of the Loft have agreed to form a coalition Government, in which the latter will have seven seats. The

Maximalists have prohibited the manufacture of arms with a view 1o the probability of a speedy European peace. Tt transpires that the Maximalist peace conditions mentioned in previous reports include a demand for the speedy evacuation of occupied territories. Tlio Maximalist news agency states that tlio Maximalist delegation at Brest Litov.sk has written to the German Foreign Office that the peace negotiations may be endangered if tbo German Minority Socialists aro not allowefl to go to Stockholm to meet the Russian Socialists. The Maximalists claim that. 6000' of Korniloff's troops were completely beaten in the neighbourhood of Kharkoff.—Renter. LENIN PREPARING TO FLEE FROM PETROGBAD. New York, December 25. Tho Stockholm correspondent of the United Press reports that Lenin is preparing to flee from Petrograd.—Au s .-N.Z. Cable Assn. POSTAL COMMUNICATIONS WITH GERMANY RESTORED. (Rec. December 26, 8.5 p.m.) Berne, December 25. An additional clause in the Russo-German armistice allows the AustroGerman delegations to go to Petrograd to re-establish economic and cultural relations. It is reported time the Russo-Gernian postal communications have been fully restored.—-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. GERMANY'S DESIGNS REGARDING RUSSIA. (Rec. December 26, 8.5 p.m.) • N Stockholm, December 25. It is persistently reported that in view of the precariousness of tho Bolsheviki's authority. Germany hopes at the earliest opportunity to thrust out the leaders and substitute a. Germanised monarchy, or establish direct control in Northern Russia, including Petrograd. Then, after the war, and 'after economic penetration, she will seek to enforce authority in Odessa.—"Tho Times." RESIDENCE OF ITALIAN EMBASSY OFFICIAL SACKED. (Rec. December 26, 5.5 p.m.) Petrograd, December 25. Drunken sailors sacked the residence of tho 'First Secretary of the Italian Embassy and bayoneted two servants.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. COMMANDER IN TURKESTAN LYNCHED. | ' Petrograd, December 24. A message from' Taskend describes the horrible lynching of General Korovitchenko by a- mob. M. Kerensky had appointed Korovitchenko commander of the troops in Turkestan.—Reuter. FINLAND IGNORING THE BOLSHEVIKI (Rec. December 2", 0,20 a.m.) * London, December 25. Tho "Daily Mail's" Petrograd correspondent has reported that_ Finland is ignoring the Bolsheviki, and has asked the Germans at Brest Litovsk to recognise her independence. The Germans are removing troops from Riga to the south-west in readiness io attack the Ukraine.—United Service.

ORDER RESTORED AT HARBIN FOREIGN TROOPS TO BE ASKED TO WITHDRAW. (Rec. December 26, 8.5 p.m.) Peking, December 25. Owing to the arrival of Chinese troops, order lias been restored at Harbin.— Router. Petrograd, December 20. / Trotsky has instructed the commander of the Russian troops at Harbin to request the withdrawal of foreign troops.—Reuter. [A message received last week stated that Harbin, the population or which is largely Jewish, was entirely under Bolshevik control, and that great disorder prevailed. It was added th'at tho Allied Ministers at Pekiflg had decided to entrust the preservation of order to Chinese troops, who were then en route.]