SUCCESSFUL OPERATIONS BY THE ITALIANS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 240, 28 June 1918, Page 5

SUCCESSFUL OPERATIONS BY THE ITALIANS

ADVANCE ON THE GRAPPA SECTOR THE SITUATION ON THE PIAVE Hy Telcsrapli--PreEs Association-Copyright. London, Tunc 25. Tho latest information to the evening of tho 2Jlh bhows tht the Italians are attacking at Mcnlo di ValbeUa. and Monte Asolone. They are advancing, but are uiecting with the strongest resistance. The Italian line is back exactly where it was before the offensive. Tho Austrians are apparently attacking from their old trenches. The river is again rising, and is sweeping away some of tho Italian bridges and hindering the crossing. A certain amount-of fighting is proceeding oil the extreme Italian right. It is estimated Hint the Italians have taken twanty thousand prisoners since tho commencement of tho offensive.—Ecuter. ITALIAN OFFICIAL REPORT (Pec. June 27, 7.30 p.m.) London, July 2(1. An Kalian .'.ffieial report states: "Having rcoesupied tho brideghead at Caposilo, wo yesterday extended it, provoking and withstanding rcsohto counterattacks. \Vc took 37!) prisoners and also a few'hundred moro at tho clearing up of the battlefield."—Aus.-rv.Z. Cable Assn.-Uonler. ADVANCE OF A MILE ON THE GRAPPA FRONT "BAG" OF 1800 PRISONERS. (Kec. June 27, 0.5 p.m.) Rome, Juno 2fi. The Italians linvo advanced ,i. mile o» Hie Grappa, sector, and south-west of Monte Asolone. capturing a further 1R!K) Austrians. As (he Piavo is still in Hood, the Italians are unable. to< build .sufficient bridges fo enable them to land n large force on tho eastern bank. It is estimated thai; llio Austrian casualties nr« i-.t li!usL 150,000, while tho Austrians' claim to 50,000 prisoners is absurd."— Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn A DRASTIC ROUND UP (Pec. June 27, 11.15 p.m.) , r T ' ~' ,',„ . , London, Juno 211. _ iur. .leftnes writes: Not a single man remains on the west bank of tho'. nave, the last remnants surrendering on AVednesday, after being chased from' flitch to ditch in the marshy ground beyond Musilo. Tho other last point of resistance was the river bend at (Jliicsanuova, where IGOO surrendered."—"Thp Times.'''' AN AUSTRIAN EXAGGERATION. ■to ■~ ,■ ~ Rome, June 20. The Italian General Staff states that the Austrian claim thai, tho Italian losses total one hundred and fifty thousand is exaggerated, and nro certainly nothing approaching that, figure—Renter. WHOLE BATTLEPRONT A VAST CEMETERY *, , , , , Milan, June 20. llio whole countryside between Hontallo and Santa Dona i*i a vast cemetery. Thousands of unbnriert corpses in certain places render the air unbrenthablc. It is estimated that tho Austrian losses sinco the offensive began arc now nearly a quarter of a million. Many Italian prisoners and wounded have been recovered. Airmen detected the Austrians moving inland, on tho left bank of fho Piave, a prodigious array of artillery, amounting to threo thousand pieces. Italian strategists anticipate that the Austrians will in the near future concentrate in the mountain sectors. They point out that the enemy is still capable of a considerable effort.—Aus.-N.Z. Gable Assn. ANOTHER STORY OF THE COUP London, Juno 25. Mr. Ward Pries writes: "The recaptured batteries were filled with explosives, ready for their destruction, but the speed of the pursuit nrevenled this being done. The Austrians decided to reernss the river on Saturday night, aiid started ns secretly as possible at 2 o'clock in the morning, leaving it formidable array of machine-guns, constantly fliine-, to keep up {hi inmressi.vi that tho strength had not been changed. When tho patrols discovered fhis, the news of tho withdrawal was flashed from Mnntello lo the sea. General Diaz immediately ordered an attack on the whole front. The retreat became so flurried (hat panic-si rieken troops seized bo;its loaded with artillery and horses, and throw the animals overboard, lo be drowned.in the swift stream. The 31st and 32ml Austrian "Rifles foug'it gallant rearguard actions on the Upper Piave for forty-eight.hours. The eighly men who worn left surrendered, but the commanding general, Von Oonstadt, shot himself, 'the whole Italian Army is al; i the zenith of fighting enthusiasm, and is worth twice what it was a week ago." —"The Times/'