Italy

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 100, 3 April 1916, Page 5

Italy

AUSTRIAN ATTACKS. REPELLED WITH HEAVY LOSS. [United Phess Association.] Rome, March .31. A communique states :< After an intense artillery duel the enemy, with large reserves, attacked the northern extremity of the Podgora heights, and the fighting extended rapidly along the. entire front as far as Sabotine. The fighting was particularly despeiate across Peumica torrent. The attacks were repeatedly repulsed, the enemy renewing them each time with fresh troops, but was ultimately routed. We captured east of Selta a strongly entrenched position at the bayonet's point.

MR ASQUITH AT ROME. GREAT RECEPTION BY ENORMOUS CROWDS. Rome, April 1. Mr Asquith received a splendid ovation in the streets, the crowds shouting: Viva la Quadruple! Viva Asquith and Britain!" There was a great demonstration in front of the Embassy, where Mr Asquith bowed his acknowledgments from the balcony and cried in Italian, "Vive II Re! Viva l'ltalia!" Later the King gave him an audience at the Quirinal, and Mr Asquith then visited Queen Margherita. When Mr Asquith arrived in the city the school children and Government and private employees received holidays. The Union Jack and the Allied flags were flying everywhere, and it was difficult to control the enormous crowds.

"SEALING AN UNBREAKABLE* UNION." POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC INTERESTS. FAITH IN FINAL TRIUMPH. (Received 8.5 a.m.) Rome, April 2. Mr Asquith was gratified at the reception accorded him. The newspapers consider that the visit seals an unbreakable union of the Allies, and they emphasise the insistence wherewith Mr Asquith's and Baron Sonnino's speeches at a dinner by the Foreign Office demonstrated the identity of Anglo-Italian political and economic interests. Mr Asquith remarked that all England followed with the heartiest sympathy Italy's herioc struggle towards liberty, unity, and independence. Fate had so willed that when the principles and aspirations shared by both were menaced the two united in i brotherly alliance. They would depend on the cause of freedom to compel respect of the rights of nations both weak and strong. Mr Asquith added that the Allies were ready to face direct hardships, and would not be failing in faith in the final triumph which was destined to strengthen their essential rights. The Pope gave an audience to Mr kaquitrli lusting twenty minutes.