Italy

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 49, 1 June 1916, Page 5

Italy

GREAT AUSTRIAN LOSSES.

VARIOUS REPORTS.

f Unitbd Punas Association. V < New York, May 31

A message from Milan States tliafc a Swiss officer who has returned flom Trentino says that the Austrian losses in the twelve days of the offensive averaged five thousand daily. Other reports from Berne state that 69,000 Austrians were fighting on the left wing, and after seven days more than half of these were destroyed. Although the enemy were prepared at all points for a sensational march to victory, they found the evacuated territory denuded of even greenstuffs. Calculating that the Italians would retreat precipitately, the enemy expected ample stores in the captured territory, but field telephones were busy, with the result that the invading army was without food for twenty-four .hours. A Vienna communique claims that the Austrian forces, after crossing Posina rivulet, captured a height on the southern bank. Rome, May 31. Very hard fighting continues on the plateau of Sette Cemuni where the i Austrian pressure is strongest. The Italians evacuated Asiago, and are holding the hills to the east. The Austrians are slowly advancing in the mountainous country north of the town. The Italian wings are holding and punishing the Austrians very severely. The admirable motor transport service saved the situation for Italy, enabling great reinforcements to reach the Arsiero-Asiago plateau in time to stop the gap due to the breaking of the first line. The last serious loss was that of the big guns which were abandoned on the Mont Maggiospitz-Lonezza line. London, May 30. The Daily Mail’s Milan correspondent says that snow in. the Southern Tyrol has delayed the arrival of Austrian big guns.