ITALY’S OFFENSIVE.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 May 1917, Page 1

ITALY’S OFFENSIVE.

.Attacking Hermada. (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association and Renter.)

LONDON, May 28.

The Italian newspapers commenting on the success of the ' offensive on tuc right wing point out that if the i.n.ians reach the foot of Hermadd, a hill a thousand feet high, a Gibraltar-like rock with abrupt slopes and four castle like summits holding scores of guns and the last considerable obstacle defending Trieste.

The frontal defence of Hermada having fallen, the Italians are working north and south and the -investment is almost complete. The British batteries are hammering the fortress with increasing’ intensity. Hermada resembling an erupting volcano.

The Austrian guns suddenly ceased at one stage and the Italian aeroplanes reported that the Austrians were withdrawing many guns from Hermaaa ’u Trieste,.

Other*reports states that the British monitors practically obliterated rue western suburbs of Trieste containing the military establishments.

A», Irian Casualties ROME, May 28. It is reported that noin-combaian ta have been ordered to evacuate Trieste. The Archives and bank deposits have been removed. The Italians have now priaonered a total of 25,000. The Austrian casualties were 80,000 between May 14th. and 24th.

Useless Counter Attacks.

[BEUTEB t 8 SEBVICE. COPYBIGHT.] ROME, May 28. Another account from the Italian, front says the enemy are still strong especially in heavy artillery and nmicliiine guns from the Russian front but M. Kerensky’s visit to the Russian front bad the effeot of preventing any withdrawal of further troops, we enemy fearing a surprise attack by General (Brussiloff. The Austrians made repeated counter attacks with tho object of recapturing Vodice, but these resulted only in useless carnage. Thousands of Austrian bodies cover the ground.

Fresh and Jniaot ROME, May 28. The Italian army after six days’ of battle is still fresh and almost intact. It has tremendous losses. These results are due to superior Italian artillery and the effectiveness of their fire.

The Austrians ar e firing blindly through a lacking of aeroplanes and balloons.!

The profile of Aerada has completely changed and now resembles an immense ruin.

Tlie Austrians are hastily constructing defences nearer Trieste.

Italian Report [bEUTEB’s SEBVICE. COPYBIGHTJ LONDON, May 29. Italian official: —We have strengthened our positions on the Julian front and captured the strongly fortified trenches east and south-east of Jamiano. We crossed the Timavor River and occupied 'Sangjiqvanii, north-west or Duina. We captured nine six inch guns ana repulsed a counter attack at Vodice and the heights eastward of Gorizia.