ON 150 MILES OF FRONT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 231, 18 June 1918, Page 5

ON 150 MILES OF FRONT

SPIRITED ITALIAN, COUNTER-ATTACKS THOUSANDS OF AUSTRIANS CAPTURED ■■ LULL IN THE WEST The oentre of public interosfc in the war has with almost dramatic enddenness been transferred from the ■ Western front to the Italian ' front. ■ The Austrians have launched tho heaviest attack; to data in anj theatre of war. But tho enemy started badly. His attack was expected, •even to the time for his guns to begin the preliminary, and the defenders therefore had no difficulty in gauging their objects. The various authoritative messages are full of optimism, Tho .Italians, assisted by the British and French, exacted a heavy toll from the enemy's advance. ATTACKED ALONG THEIR WHOLE LINE

GREAT BATTLE ON AUSTRO-ITALIAN FRONT ENEMY MAKES A BAD START Br Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright, „ London, June 16. An official British and Italian report states: "After a heavy bombardment from _ tho sea to th 3 Adige the enemy's infantry attacked all day. Four Austrian divisions attacked-the British front. The attack on the right completely failed with heaviest, losses to the enemy. The enemy on the left penetrated the front line on a front of 2500 yards to a maximum depth of a thousand yards, where ie is firmly contained. Tho enemy suffered very heavy losses. Our low-flying aerial machines in tho afternoon were continually 'engaged in attacking, with machine-guns and bombs, the enemy's bridges and transport on the lower Piave, and did great damage. The 'pocket' on tho British front was cleared of the enemy during the night and early this morning, and wo aro now re-established on our original front line. We look over ,350 prisoners. Early on Saturday when the attack was launched invaluable assistance by infantry and artillery was immediately provided by the Italians on our left, and this was largely responsible for bringing the Austrian infiltration to an immediate halt. Heavy fighting continues in many places along tho Piave, and on tho eastern end of the Montebello heights are astride the valley of the Brenta."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn'.-Eeuter. ■ (Rec. June 17, 10.10 p.m.) London, June 16,10 p.m. An Italian official communique' states great battle has been in progress since Saturday. The artillery preparation was exceptionally intense. The enemy's masses of'infantry began the expected offensive against the eastern sector, the Asiago Plateau, end of the Brenta Valley, and Mount Grappa. Also they attempted to force the passage of the Piave, and carried out heavy local actions pn the remainder of their front. Our own and the Allied barrage anticipated tho enemy's preparation with a deadly counter-bombardment, while our infantry sustained the onslaught in the advanced defensive area. The enemy attacked most intensely on 150 kilometres of front (90 miles), and in the initial rush they occupied a few of the front-line positions on Monte di Vnl Bella and the Asolone areas, and also at the head of the Mount Solaroito salient. Home of the enemy crossed the Piavo in the Nervesa Fagaremusile areas. Wo energetically counter-attacked all along the front, and succeeded in holding back powerful pressure, while regaining a. good portion of the positions which were temporarily yielded, although isolated detaenments, with great valour, continued to remain,some at all costs. The violence of tho struggle did not diminish during the night. We are firmly holding our front on the Asiogo Plateau, and have completely 'reocctipied our ■ original positions off the Asalono and Solaroito sali/ eht, pressing most closely the enemy who had crossed tho Piave. We have takon 3000 prisoners, including eighty-nine officers. Our own and the Allied i airmen are taking a strong part in the battle, bombarding the crossings of the Piave and machine-gunning the enemy's masses. We brought down thirty-one aeroplanes."— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter.

AUSTRIAN OFFICIAL REPORT i ~ (Rec. Juno 17, 8.20 p.m.) I > London, June 16. 'A. wireless Austrian official report states:—"We broke the enemy's lines on the ,Plateau of Seven Communes, and also crossed the Piave. The number of prisoners hitherto taken totals ten thousand Italians, British, and Trench, and 8 considerable number of guns."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. * i i THOUSANDS OF PRISONERS TAKEN IN ITALIAN COUNTER. 1 ATTACKS IRec. Juno 17, 7.50 p.m.) , Rome, June 16. Signor Orlando is optimistic regarding the battle. The Italians are everywhere holding the Austrian?, and frequently counter-attacking, taking prisoner thousands of the'enemy—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. DISPOSITION OF THE ENEMY'S ARMIES. (Rec. June 17, 5.5 p.m.) _ Paris, June 15. The Austrian armies are divided into two groups-the mountain group, tnder Field-Marshal Conrad von HoetzendOTff, comprising Krobatkin's, Von Schendtenstnl's, and Krauss's armies, aud the group in the plains, under General Bowevitch, comprising Kirschbach's, Jum's, and Henrique's armies.—Aus - N.Z.' Cable Assn. ' i THE ATTACK ON THE BRITISH _ , , , London, June IG. .Reuters correspondent at British Headquarters in Italy says: "The attack on Saturday upon the British position on the Asiago Plateau was made by a • division of Austro-Germans and some Bosnian troops. The enemy's objectivo was apparently to reach the line of hills about the plateau and Ciraa de Pointe three miles behind the front. The attackers reached our front line but made little progress. The attack on the right was completely repulsed, but 'it succeeded at first in gaining a few hundred yards near the left centre. The country is full of hidden f9kls, and lends itself to attack by small isolated detachments. The preliminary bombardment was most severe, but the eneroy mlv sparingly used gas-shells."—Reuter. A LONG-PREPARED BLOW A correspondent of the Corriere della Sera" says that Austria's "fruitLs attack at the Tonale Pass was the prelude of the great' offensive which has long been in preparation. General ICrobatkin employed a whole division and •his only success was the capture of' height 2545, whioh is within three hundred yards of tho Austrian starting point and is dominated from the Italian posi-tions.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. 1 OFFENSIVE FRONT 150 MILES ' The Austrian offensive from, the Astico River to the sea°covers nearly *"'lso miles of front, having regard to the contours of the ground; but the newspapers point out that tho German offens ivo in March began on a wide front and later contracted to selected positions. A pparently Thursday's attack at' tho Tonale Pass was a. foint tn cover the real offensive, which is fifty mil»s to the eastwards.—'Aus.-N.Z, Cable Assn. GOADED BY GERMANY * ——— M, Marcel Hutin says: "The Austrian offensivo is an important nulftary event synchronising with the difficulties of the moment in Austria's internal situation. German opinion was recently at white heat against Austria, which was mo3t bitterly stigmatised ami charged with inactivity when Von Hindenbur" was seeking a decision. Bardn Burian (Foreign Ministor) seems to iiavo been soundly rated. Ho rushed back to Vienna and obtained approval for an attack on the Italians. Fifty German and Austrian divisions are engaged. Tho Italian losses in artillery have been mado up, and tho Army gonerally is in good condition. Marshal Conrad von Hoetzendorff commands tho enemy's northern gToup iti tho mountains, and General Bowevitch the southern group in tho plains."—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. AUSTRIA'S INTERNAL CRISIS REFLECTED ON THE BOURSE !R«c. Juno 17, 5.5 p.m.) • Amsterdam, June Hi. Reports continue to be received of grave disorders in Austria. On the Bourse at Vienna tho exchange dropped a whole florin, to 25.30. The Austrian kronen, normally worth 10d., is now 4Jd. Baron Burian de Hajccz's hurried return to y.-MUia is attributed to ike seriousness of the position.—Router, '

NO SURPRISE TO THE ITALIANS (Rec. June 17, 10.10 p.m.) . Rome, June 16. The Austrian offensive was no surprise to the Italian Command, who knew that the enomy's bombardment was timed to begin at 3 o'clock on the morning of June 15, and know where it would bo most intense. Tho Italian batteries wero ordored to open a concentrated firo at midnight in tho zone ol' the Seven Communes, on the Asiago Plateau, and on the Bvontn, between Asiago and Mount Grappa. The Italian batteries violently bombarded the enemy's front linos, gun emplacements, and his immediate rear, while tho Austrians woro making their final preparations for the attack. Tho bombardment lasted for twenty minutes, and wa« resumed thirty-fivo minutes beforo tho opening of tho Austrian bombardment.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THEIR GREATEST EFFORT TO DATE (Rec. Juno 17, 10.30 p.m.) Milan, June 16. The "Corriere do la Sera's" correspondent at Headquarters : tales:—''The offensive is tlw greatest and most ambitious effort Austria-Hungary nas attempted in any theatre of tho war. There is an enormous array of artillery, one thousand guns boing concentrated against ono Italian army in tho Trentino, and 1500 on tho Asiago sector front Astico to the Brenta. Tho enemy's chief aim is to overwhelm the defonces in the narrow Frenzola Valley, securing a break through the' Bronta Valley, onabling him to delw.ich in Vlnstogna. This is practically a resumption of tho offensive which was foiled m May, 1916, and attain last'winter. Field-Marshal Conrad von IToetzeudorif, who has twice failed, is directing the third attempt on I'nis sector with a greater strength of n.on and material."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. AN UNPROPITIOUS BEGINNING (Ree. June 17, 10.30 p.m.) i London, June 10. Mr. H. Warner Allen, writing from the Italian front, states:—"The Austrian offensive had a less propitious banning than any in iho history of this war. Two divisions attacked the British. Ono sustained heavy loss, and finally, under a pretence of gaining ground, dug trenches in No Man's land. They'could havo done this without an attack, as wo were quite willing ]o have them fully exposed to our guns. The otiier division was rushed up in lorries, and attacked on a narrow front, the attackens coming on in many waves. All wera repulsed, and_ retired in confusion, while the artillery did enormous execution. Tho British thu6 wore able to 6end a messago to their Italian comrades that their left wing was attaoked, but their front was holding like a rock."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

BOTH SIDES RESTING THE LULL IN THE WEST THE BRITISH EXPLOIT AT BETHUNE London, June 10, 3.45 p.m. A French' communique states: "There were successful local actions north-east of the Bois de Genles, south of Dammard, and in the region of Vinli. Enemy attempts to cross the Matz at its junction with tho Oiso foiled under our fire." —Aus.-N.Z, Cable Assn.-Rcuter, (Rec. June 17, 8.20 p.m.) „ London, June 16. A French official comma.iique states: ','ln tWWoevre the ene.ny during the morning gained a footing in the tillage of Xivry, from which ho was driven out by a counter-attack, losing some prisoners."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Asaii.-Eeuter. THE BRITISH ATTACK AT BETHUNE (Rec. June 17, 11.5 p.m.) London, June 17. Mr. Pirrio Robinson states: —'"The successful British attack at Bethune led , to a hard all-night struggle with bombs and bayonets. The fight was _ especially 1 fierce at La Fannerie, where the Germans were posted in strong positions. The enemy's casualties were nearly a, thousand, and tho wholo position was occupied by dawn."—"Tho Times." ANOTHER ACCOUNT. (Rcc. June 18, 0.5 a.m.) London, June 17. Mr. Philip Gibbs writes:—"Tho Sviffolks and Gordons at Jj.i Bassoe ("anal made a daring attack on a front of two miles, and secured two hundred prisoner and twenty-fivo machine guns. The sector is chiefly a mining village, slag heaps with shell-broken pit-heads. Tho Gorman defence was based on linked shell-craters and machine-gun posts. Tho defenders wero notorious as belonging to the German Eighteenth Reserve Division, which was responsible for tho campaign of' frightfulncss at Louvain and Termondo in 1014. Our attack was carried out in darkness, and utterly surprised the Germans) Many wero taken prisoner before they could get their arms, while others' fought bravely in tho shell- . craters. and were bayoneted at their posts. Educated prisoners admit that tho gains from the offensive are much less than was expected. They aro very nervous about tho Americans, as,it was believed that only 70,000 had reached France. They now realise that the submarine campaign ha 6 failed."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE GERMAN REPORT. (Rec. June 17, 8,20 p.m.) • > London, Juno 16. A wireless German official report states:—"Wo repulsed British local attacks which entered our foremost lines westward of Locon, and repulsed enemy attacks at Dommiers and Villers Cotterets."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Router. THE WEST A OHARNEL HOUSE FOR GERMANY'S MANHOOD. _ , Amsterdam, Ju.no 15. Herr Cohn (Socialist), speaking in the Rcichstag, said that the West front had become a charnel house for the best manhood of Germany. Tho war had now become , a family question for the Hohenzollerns.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE AMERICAN STRENGTH IN FRANCE Washington, June 16. The American troops in France number 800.000. Sixty per cent, of them (i.e., 480,000) are fighting men. General Marsh, Chief of the General Staff, states that the extension of the Allied front as a result of the German drives now exceeds sixty miles.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.'

THREE MILLION MEN IN KHAKI BY AUGUST 1. (Rec. June 17, 5.5 p.m.) Washington, Juno 16. The United States expects to have three million men in uniform by August I.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. TROOP. TRANSPORT FEATS. (Reo. June 18, 0.5 a.m.) London, Juno 17. The "Morning Post" states that the arrivals of American troops during the past few days have eclipsed all records as a feat in shipping. The iU)v;;m\nts across the Atlantic exceed anything in mercantile annals. The week-end srw:e« at one port were amazing. Ship after ship discharged her khaki-clad cargo, and the men were whirled off by special trains for France.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. A HEAVY GAS SHELL ATTACK. (Rec. June 18, 0.45 a.m.) Now York, June Ifi. The "New York Times" correspondent with tho American Army states that the Germans fired more than 1500 guß shells on tho American positions northwest of Chateau Thierry in two hours and a half. This is tne heaviest gas attack yet withstood by tho Americans.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE WAR IN THE AIR (Rec. June 17, 8.20 p.m.) London, June IG. Sir Douglas Haig's aviation :.oport states: "We dropped ten tons of bombs during the day time and nino tons at night tirno on Saturday, the targets including the Estaires and Armentieres railway stations and the Bruges docks. We brought down three and drove down two of tho onemy'g machines. No British machines aro missing."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Router. AN ALL-AMERICAN AIR RAID. Washington, June 16. Particulars of the first exclusively American air raid behind the German lines indicate that the Americans were highly successful. The railway stations at Doinmery and Baroncourt were damaged.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. GERMAN PUBLIC DISSATISFIED BUT STILL PREPARED TO BE FED ON PROMISES. (Rec. Juno 17, 5.5 p.m.) London, Juno IG. The Central Newß Agency states that neutrals who have lad an ( pportnnity of studying conditions in Gerjiany say that the poople aro dissatisfied with the results of tho Western offensive, which aro far short of what had been promised. Their confidence has received a shock, but in spilo of tho dearth of iood ana tho consequent sufferings I hare is no evidonco of any general unwillingness to be fed on promises of victory, and tho advantages it will assure them, nor any .faltering in the will to continue tho wot oven at tho price of much suffering. Tho military factor contiivxes to be tho dominant one, and so long as tho offensivo holds any possibilities of a Gorman sucooss economic' privations will bo cheerfully borne—Aua.-N.Z. Cable Afisn.