BRILLIANT SUCCESS EAST OF GORZ

Nelson Evening Mail, 18 September 1916, Page 5

BRILLIANT SUCCESS EAST OF GORZ

VALLONA DEFENCES BROKEN.'Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) ROME, Sept, 16. The Italian success on Friday was achieved under the worst weather conditions. Cur artillery heavily shelled the enemy's litres east of Gorz to the sea, despite a thick mist rendering observation difficult. Towards midday the mist thinned, and the enemy's lines became .visible. The bombardment was intensified, but it w*as still impossible to use aircraft to observe the effect. Infantry were accordingly sent forward for'that purpose, and discovered several new lines of entanglements, a further bombardment beincr necessary. The main attack was delivered av 3 o'clock in the afternoon, explosives having, enlarged the gaps in the entanglements. Torrentia-1 rain inundated the ground, but the infantry rushed the enemy lines east of Vallona and ascended the, slopes, the crests of which the Austriahs had strongly defended, constituting them the chief lines of defence. ' The Italians broke through at several points, taking 2200 prisoners in this operation alone. The infantry continued the attack east of Vallona. The left wing captured San Crado- height from a strong garrison. Further south large entrenchments were taken near Loquizza arid., east of Oppa Chia Sella'. We captured" 1100 prisoners. The Alpini' climbed a precipice 7 "oil Mount Couriol and captured the strong summit, 7727 feet Orisrh, killing nearly all the Tyrolese Alpine defenders and taking prisoner the reihainder. AN AUSTRIAN COMMUNIQUE. (Australian p-d N.Z. Cable Association.' LONDON, Sept. 15. " A Vienna communique says: "The Italians have opened a new offensive, which is directed chiefly against the Carno Plateau. Their artillery and mine fire ncreased to greater violence, and strong infantry forces in dense formation atia'cked our whole front 'between the Wippach and the sea. ' The fighting was fierce, and although the enemy penetrattd parts of our first line trenches, we are maintaining our ground here; Their first assault must be regarded as a failure. We repelled attacks westward;,.'of the Fleimser Vallaey, in the TreritiriO, taking prisoners.