ITALIAN CAMPAIGN.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 December 1917, Page 3

ITALIAN CAMPAIGN.

FIGHT AGAINST TIME. WAITING FOR SNOW. [LONDON TIMES SERVICE —COPYRIGHT] (Received. This Day at 8.50. a.m.) LONDON December 16. Mr. Ward Price says both sides arc fighting in Italy with one eye on tho barometer. The Italians are hoping to hold up all advance until the winter snows in tlie alps impose a white truce. If the enemy fail to win Piave plain, all their previous reckless sacrifice of life will be in vain. Time fights for u.s hut never in living momery has the winter been so belated. Peaks still black, should now show ten feet of snow. 1 ■' \ GERMAN OPERATIONS.

. rAUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION ■ h & RVUTER.] TADMIRALTY —PF.R -W»RELESS PRESS?} (Received This Day at 9.15 a.m.) j LONDON, Dec. 16th., German official—We prisonerod during the last few days 3,000 Italians between the Brenta and Piave. ITALIAN OPERATIONS. j (Received This Dav at 9.50. a.m.) j LONDON, Dec. 115th., ‘ Italian official.—The battle between Bronta and Piave continued fiercely. The enemy launched a mass yesterday afternoon. Our counter offensive, aiming at lightening the pressure, twice reached the summit of Monte Pertola. The enemy mrtd e a thrust at Col Caprile and southward of Col Della Berretta. Our counter- attack completely repulsed the assault with heavy losses. I The enemy re-attacked and reached Col Caprile and firmly held positions a little to tho rearward. j k Wo twice repulsed a strong attack : I at the head o$ Monte. Diolarolo salient. ITALY’S FRONT. (Received This Dav at noon.) . PARIS, Dec. 16th. ! The “Matins” Turin correspondent j reports General von Buelow’s army coni j prising nine divisions, are now disposed between Gonerals Krobatin’s and Conrad’s armies on tho spurs of Mont Qualla. The enemy has five thousand gun s on a line from Asingo to the sea. The fifth day’s battle, between Brenta and Piave, was tho most sanguinary since the offensive began. The enemy threw in visions "without regard for their colossal losses. At the £ end of the day the hills and valleys were literally covered with. dead. Tho bombardment reached an unheard of violence