SPLENDID COUNTER-ATTACKS BY THE ITALIANS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 236, 24 June 1918, Page 5

SPLENDID COUNTER-ATTACKS BY THE ITALIANS

12,000 PRISONERS TO DATE A MEASURE OF SAFETY r ■ — CIVILIAN EVACUATION OF ■:">-.•■/■ PARIS : . v

A number, of interesting reports deal with events on the Italian front, but no great ohange in the general situation is , disclosed. Along the Rave the Italians are everywhere holding their own and at some points have driven home successful counter-attacks. There are suggestions that the enemy may renew the-attempt to break through the Italian front in the mountain country between the Piave and the Trentino. The Americans are now holding twenty-eight miles of front in the Western theatre. ■ Only minor events aro reported in that area, but the expectation etill - holds that another enemy onslaught is imminent. The removal of a section, of the civilian, population of Paris is described as a far-sighted precaution. It is not apprehended that the enemy will succeed in besieging, muoh less in occupying, the oity, but further bombardment is possible, There ars further accounts of serious disorders in Austria. \.. ■ .

' THE' STRUGGLE ON THE PIAVE .

I ITALIAN COUNTER-ATTACKS BREAK ENEMY LINE AUSTRIAN PUBLIC DISTURBED BY THE COLLAPSE ■ By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright. . . " • (Rec. June 23, 5.5 p.m.). offi «al repo-t ttatos: "Tlio enemy pre o ssure'at U Jlonl!ilo ß wSed ™,$ y ™ Thursday but was :verywhero held, our coanter-attaeks regaining Sf , 7 h L elie I my / tem l ptedadv^ces , to the westward and southward. aI animated struggle took place, particularly eastward of the Casa Ghellcr-Baeuaria hne and in the vicinity of Ncrvesa Station. We took 400 prisoners and recaptured two batteries, which were promptly turned against the enemy/ ,We completely repulsed an attack teferard of Candelu. Our Munter-offeLve before I ff U wa . s ,. be S l " ™ Wednesday night and continued "irresistibly, carrying us to the positioned the previous. day. The enemy suffered 'heavily We took several hundred, prisoners The enemy westward of the San Dona Val ley attacked four times against Lasson.but was forced to desist by his etceiJSfv hT ft Paftie ?- ° f 6 f,°- rS aDd .Braaglieri; northwardbf Co teS, tIJr 7 v J 8 T"? J llne3, v^ ne 2(J ' J I , " 60 " 6 "- firmly retaining the cap. tured positions. We extended me bridgehead at Cava Zuccherina. American at •- men participated m the battle for the first time."-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn,»Eeuter

■•:.•' ■■■-■ ~r~r ■■'-.. ■ -'•-(Bee; June 23, IUO p.m.) . . T , ~ . _. , '■ , London, June 22, 10, p.m. An Italaan- official report states: "The enemy's offensive has not been renewed .since Thursday evening. We sanguinarily repulsed 'a strong local attack m the direction of Losson. The enemy concentrated a violent fire in the direotion of Nontollo and in the Grappa region. Wo crushed subsequent intantry advances. We again enlarged our bridgehead at Cava Zuccherina. .We penetrated a post on Asiago plateau and captured the garrison. We brought down ten aeroplanee.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. ' . i»uut,ui, V ON THE BRITISH FRONT SUCCESSFUL' COUNTER-ATTACKS. fflec. June 24, 0.30 a.m.) ■ 'A British-Italian official report issued on June 22 says: "The'situation is unchanged on the British front. Our counter-attack has been most successful and many direct; hits were made on hostile batteries, also exploding numerous dumps. Thelorkshiresonthenightof Juno 21 successfully raided positions south-west of;Asiago, inflicting heavy casualties.' Between June 12 and 21 we destroyed 33 aeroplanes. Two -British machines aro missing."-Aus.-N.Z. Cable ; , • AUSTRIAN OFFICIAL REPORT ■■ .. (Eec. June 23, 5.5 p.m.) ■ - 'I wireless Arabian official report states: "The enemy on'june sfW • ' ™ rT}^ 1 ™ lenee ;™» ] y attempted to recapture the positions we won westward of the Piaye. The struggle at Montello has increased in vialenc* and we are destroying wave after wave of enemy storm fawps There™ - hand-to-hand fighting, on a front of 12 kilometres (about 7i miles) The ■ (B«c, Juno 23, 11.10 p.m.) A wirelew'Austrian official report states: "Wo repuk'ed "iteHaii Ittacle'nii Montello and wes ward of Sangona. The enemy between Juno 15 and 20 lost 43 'planes.. Our prisoners now number-40.000, including a few Czec-Slovak *""■»** prcscribed ft AUSTRIAN LINE BROKEN IN COUNTER-ATTACKS (Eeo. Jime-22, 5.5 p.m.) ' . ' m , •..,._, ... London, June 21 lieAuetraban Press Association's correspondent learns that 1079 Austrians yere taken prisoner and five mountain guns and 75 machine-guns captured on the British fronton Italy, where our counter-attacks recovered the ground taken by. the enemy. The Austrian gains west of the Brenta are insignKnt lhe Italian connter-attacks rendered them unimportant. Tho Austrians did better on-the Piave front, where they occupied a continuous front of 18 milix no mean achievement, and if they had been able to devebo it before- the ItiH™ reserves were available the position would have been serious but on hint is the situation was altered to the Austrians' disadvantage. The Italian reserve carried out a series of counter-attacks which broke the Austrian line arid -ained the banks of the Piave. The enemy's difficulties were increased by the river flooding. The transport of supplies and reinforcements was ' rendered difficult and now there aro no bridges, except one north of Montello, and that -: 6 beiiur, heavily bombed by British airmen. No-enemy reinforcements have reached Montello since June 18. Tho Austrians have used up 39 divisions out of 50 Still they have large reserves behind the mountain front. It is possible they will resume the attack on this front, while keeping up tho pressure on the Piave Although the Austrians have been defeated, it is too early to sav rhev will ™f attempt to retrieve the eihation.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. • ; " FIGHTING ON THE PIAVE CONFUSED. (Eec. June 23, 5.5 p.m.) 1 The "Daily Chronicle's" correspondent at Italian Headquarters'6avs-° "The fighting on the Piave is.most confused. Owing to the dense bushes there are f™ quent surprises on both sides. An Italian divisional headquarters was almost . surrounded yestorday. The Staff loft their desks, snatched up arms, and fought an enemy detachment until the latter was driven off. Two hamlels on tho Lownr Piave salient changed hands six-times."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Aesn. ' GERMAN SYSTEM OF INFILTRATION ADOPTED. CRec. June 23, 11.40 p.m.) m TXT jt, • u. • • .i „ London, Juno 22. . Mr. Ward Price says the enomy is using the German system of infill ration attacks by constant small streams of patrol' and 'assault itroops, with specially trained 'bombers, bayoncter.s, flame-throwers, snipers, and machine-gunners Tho nuctuating fighting produces odd sights. He saw naked wounded men neddline bicyoles, owing to the pressure compelling the immediate evacuation of patients* et dressing stations without their clothes.-"The Times." GERMAN AND AUSTRIAN GENERALS CONFER (Eec. June 23, 11 p.m.) . The New York "Times" correspondent at Italian Headquarters 'states that Von Hindenburg and Von Ludondorff conferred with the Austrian generals on the Italian front. The German leaders gave advice as to the lines on which the offensive should be continued.—Auu.-N.Z. Cable Assn,

TWELVE THOUSAND AUSTRIAN PRISONERS (Rec. Juno 23, 11.10 p.m.) London, June 22. Kouter's correspondent at Italian Headquarters describes tho difficulties of tho campaign. The whole front is a mass of vegetation, concealing maohinegiinß, while canals, dykes, and ditches, with trailing vines overhead, impede quick advance. Altogether 12,000 Austrians havo been fakcin prisoner since tho openinc; of tho offensive.—Router. PUBLIC OPINION IN AUSTRIA IMPRESSED BY THE COLLAPSE. (Bee. June 23, 5.5 p.m.) Lcindon, Juno 21. French critics believe ihe collapse ot the first phase of tho Imttlo has already been accepted by the Austrian,? as final. M. Mai-cql Ilutin stages that Emperor Karl has forbidden a second effort, and adds: "An offensive wftich rave the defender* 11,000 prisoners will not encourago the Austrians in thoir illusions." He further states that public opinion in Vienna, Budapest, and Prngne ie greatly impressed by the failure, which synchronises-with the critical fowl and political difficulties which victories were intended to avert.—United Service. AUSTRIANS TRY TO CREATE DISORDER IN ITALIAN RANKS. (Kec. June 23, 5.5 p.m.) Washington, Juno 22. The Austrians have been discovered to bo sending; their soldiem dressed in Italian uniforms ami epenking the Italian tonßiie into the Italian ranta with a view to creating disorder. Each Austrian so discovered is shot.—Alos.-.JJ.Z. Cablo Asen. GERMAN TROOPS TO BE SENT TO ITALY (Eec. June-23, 5.5 p.m.) london> June 22; The Hague correspondent of "The , Times" states that Germany proposes to send twelve divisions to Italy, twelve Austrian, divisions replacing them on the West front—"The Times." AMERICM AIRMEN- IN ITALY. CKcc. June 23, 11 p.m.) /' Washington, June 21. A number of American airmen have arrived in Italy. One bombed the Piave bridges.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.