Italy

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 47, 25 October 1915, Page 5

Italy

general! advance in^he TYROL. [United, Prebs Association.] Rome, October 22.

"With a view to assisting Serbia, General Cadorna has ordered a general advance in the Tyrol. This has already resulted in the taking of Pregasina, menacing Riva, and the capture of Brentonico, which threatens Rovereto. It is estimated that there are 800,000 Austrian.s on the Italian front. GENERAL ADVANCE NN THE TYROL. London, October 23. Though the Balkan campaign is holding the first place in public interest, the sudden renewal of the Italian campaign is watched with the closest attention and hopefulness. There seems no doubt that the general Italian offensive has begun in earnest. Communiques from both sides devote the most attention thereto, and it is clear that fighting is being conducted with the utmost fury. Official statements emphasise the bloody nature or the struggle. An Austrian communique says that the general Italian attack on the coastal district began, as was expected, after fifty hours' violent bombardment. Bitter fighting progresses at Tolmeno bridge-head, at the edge of Dobordo Plateau. After a partial success all Italian attacks broke down, with heavy losses. Enemy detachments penetrated the Austrian trenches, but not a man survived, and when the day closed the field in front »f the Austrian positions was covered with Italian dead. There was a particularly bloody struggle at Monte San Michele, with furious hand to hand encounters, and the enemy losses are iheavy.

The Italian version states that the offensive began successfully in the Tyrol and Trentino, and has extended along the whole front to the sea, progressing favorably. After an intense artillery preparation on the whole Isonzo front, the Italians attacked strong positions, consisting of several lines of trenches covered with extensive entanglements. The Italians dashed forward under concentrated enemy fire of artillery, machine-guns, and showers of grenades. The attackers carried at the bayonet point a number of important positions in the Monte Xero zone, numerous trenches in the Santa Lucia and Tolmino sector, and at Mont? Sabatino, north of Gorizia, and broke the linos at Carso ill several places.