ITALIAN CAMPAIGN.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 November 1917, Page 2

ITALIAN CAMPAIGN.

IMPORTANT ITALIAN SUCCESS MACKENSEN MASSING GUNS. ROME, Nov. 20th. Probatin’s and Buelow’s armies are seeking to occupy Grappa and Macoff, whore the Italians are facing north to join the Piave armies. Its capture would enable the Austro-Germans to invade the Plain of Lombardy. CRITICAL FIGHTING. AUSTRIAN BRIGADE ANNIHILATED. LONDON November 20. Mr. Jeffries describes as a query which the Austro-Ger-mans claim they stormed as the all-important hinge between the armies facing north and east of the Piave. When the battle was reaching a most critical stage, th© enemy brought up sufficient reinforcements to enable him to use his Verdun “shock” tactics in dense masses, ad- , vancing like human battering rams, i There were nine attacks in 24 hours | eastward of Asiago, and the most do * perate efforts were made by Krob'atin's J army round Quoro Tomba which were scenes of surging battles and counter j attacks. It is believed that the Allied ■ troops were engaged, i A Rome correspondent says a re- . treat may he unavoidable; but the numerous successes inspired the Italians with the breath of victory. ) An Austrian brigade, which crossed the Piave was annihilated. This wa s largely due to the tenacity of the Bersaglicri who fought all night in perishing cold with riffes and machineguns. They received supplies of bombs at daylight whereupon the surviving , Austrians surrendered. ! The Italians fourth army which is defending Grappa, and the first of which is defending Vastngna, are holding Prince Conrad in check while the third army is between Montello and the sea, standing firm before Borthvitcli, whose vanguards are composed of armies under General Jurms and Sakas. I When Mackensen has heavy artillery between Valdobbianene and the sea, a great battle will be fought for Piave. | Austro-German reinforcements continue to arrive. \ The Italian morale and fighting spirit are of the highest. A series of successful counter-at-i tacks characterised yesterday’s fighting at Brunt, which took place in the approaches to the valleys on the eastern . and south-eastern districts of the Asiai go tableland. Despite stubborn .re- - sistanee the Italians progressed matht odically, consolidated the recaptured ground, and forced hack the enemy to a considerable distance to the head of the Malo, prisonering 400. Hitter fighting occurred in the zone between Brenta and Piave, especially at Monte Grappa; but this is only preliminary to an engagement in a great enemy offensive. Enemy aeroplanes are dropping leaflets among tbo Italian troops disavowing all idea of conquest of Italian territory, and explaining that the invasion is purely a military measure.

ITALIAN REPORT.

LONDON, Nov. 20.

Italian official: We drove back four massed attacks against the Monfenrn spur and prisonered 300 on Sunday and Monday in the Melette region.

ITALIAN RESISTANCE

VIOLENT FIGHTING

(Received This Day at 9.15 a.m.) j LONDON, Nov. 21. i Mr Percival Gibbon reports that already Italian resistance in the Piave sectors has hardened into a dogged, dangerous defensive, where the soldiers are holding their ground and counter. i attacking. The Austrians have not recovered their organisation as quickly as the Italians have regained their active defensive capacity. The fighting near Zenson is particu- . larly violent.

I The Italians have included volunteers for storming duties, called “Ardi,” self ; styled candidates for death, wearing a : special uniform, and comprising only the strongest men. - They rushed the j enemy positions after a short bombard- | ment. The Hungarians fought well ; back to the river, losing heavily.