THE WAR.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 October 1917, Page 2

THE WAR.

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. —COPTBIGHT.] ITALIAN CAMPAIGN. FIGHT TO FINISH. V' - GERMANY’S AIM. ROME, October 28. War correspondents are unanimously of the opinion that the Austro-German offensive means a fight to a finish, because. Germany is determined to seek a political victory over Italy’s stubborn resistance ho German pacifists activities. Germany is aiming at the disruption of the Entente’s planned offensive on a tremendous scale. ! Troops and transports for weeks have been pouring from the Balkans and Russia, which fronts are now almost stripped of armies, and include | some of the finest German troops, all j well equipped with artillery and mai chine guns. ( The latesw bulletins indicate that the Italians have not yet stemmed the assaults. i

London military critics admit that the offensive is a grim ordeal for Italy and it may be necessary to speedily come to her aid, especially with nrtillefry reinforcement

ITALIANS FAIL. SOME TROOPS GIVE WAY. LONDON .October 28. A wireless Italian official message says:’Failing the resistance of some unit forming the Second Army and retiring in cowardice without fighting or surrendering the Austro-Germans penetrated the left wing on the Julian front. Valiant efforts of the troops were unable to prevent the enemy advancing into Italy’s sacred soil. We are withdrawing the line according to a plan prepared. All stores and depots in the evacuated places were destroyed. So many memorable battles fought successfully by our brave soldiers for 2J years of war is sufficient to a'sßure the Commander in Chief of the Army whereto the country’s honour may be safely confided. We know how to fulfil our duty. AUSTRIANS OCCUPY GORIZIA. AMSTERDAM, October 28. A Yiennna official report states that the Austrians occupied Gorizia. Tiie Italians have withdrawn across the Isonzo. ITALIANS DRIVEN BACK. EIGHTY THOUSAND PRISONERS. LONDON, October 2&. A wireless German message says: A rapid development in united attack on the IsorvsQ was entirely successful on Saturday. A powerful thrust- threw back the Italians seeking to prevent _ the use of Mergo Mountains. We ’ entered Eividale, which is burning. The Austrians (and Germans took Gorizia early this morning. The prisoners now number eighty/ thousand, with guns numbering six I hundred

CABINET changes. LONDON, October 28. Reuter’s Rome correspondent says ■ that Signor Orlando has been asked to form a Cabinet. It is anticipated there will be a few changes in its Ministry at present. ENEMY REINFORCEMENTS. | ON ITALIAN FRONT. fAUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION & REUTER.] (Received this day at 1.20 a.xn.,) LONDON, October 28. It is authoritatively reported that the number of ■ enemy troops that recently arrived on the Italian front were grossly exaggerated. So far &s is known, only five German divisions are in the Isonzo front, whereof only thre© are definitely identified by Italians as | participating in the attack. Possibly another German division arrived, but has not been engaged in the attack. Two ont of five of the above mentioned divisions came from the western front where they had suffered heavily at the hands of thp British and where they were replaced by two divisions from Russia. The German strength on the west front, therefore, is 'undimmished. Indeed it has been increased by two divisions sdnoe August Ist. The remainder of the German reinforcements ofi the Italian front have been transferred from Russia and Roumania. Regarding the Austrian Reinforcements only two divisions are known to have arrived on the Italian front last month but, possibly two others have recently arrived though they have not yet been indentified. The total reinforcements therefore known to have arrived on the Italian front, amount only to seven divisions the enemy’s success is entirely due to the presence of three to five German divisions who attacked °n the PlazzoTolmino front.