Italy

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 72, 29 June 1916, Page 5

Italy

KING EMANUEL AMD HIS TROOPS

“GO AND AVENGE YOUR COUNTRYMEN !”

(Unitbd Pekb* AaBOOIAnON.J (Received 12.5 p.m.) London, .Juno 23. The Daily Telegraph's Rome correspondent status; The Austrians de--1 serve credit in one respect, namely in the rapidity of their retreat. The Austrian offensive collapsed suddenly. The Austrians are leaving every village in ashes, and every cottage a smoking ruin. King Emanuel, who was one of the first to sot foot in the reconquered Asiago, pointing his sword at the unconquered heights, addressed each passing battalion with the words: “Go and avenge your countrymen !” The High Commissioner reports:— London, June 28 (2.10 p.m.) At Adige and Brita, commanding positions were strongly organised by the enemy, who largely increased his activity, resisting the Italian advance, but nevertheless considerable progress was made at the Lagarina Valley and Vallarsa. Intense artillery-shelling of the enemy positions at Mounts Trappola and Testecolsanto, resulted »u taking trenches at Malgazugna. Between Posina and Astico, enemy positions were taken at Mount Gamondo northwards of Fusina and Mount Caviajo, the cavalry reaching Pedescala. On the Asiago Plateau, on the southern side of Assa Valley, we occupied the slopes of Mounts Rasta, Tnterrotto, and Mossich, which were strongly held by the enemy’s rearguards. Northwards, after carrying positions at Mount Colombara, the Italians began to aproach Calrnarara Valley. Tn the upper end, after intense artillerying, the Italians advanced, taking redoubts and trenches in the neighbourhod of Freikofel. In the Isonzo, artillery work and raids resulted in 353 prisoners and two machine guns being taken. AUSTRIAN EVACUATION OF TRENTINO. I Vienna, Juno 28. A communique states: The Shortening of our front between Brenta and A'cligh Svad'cdmpleted on' Monday. The Italians’ WlaMi to victories is completely untrue, as is proved by the following fact's On the night of '.the 25th the partial evacuation of the advanced'trenches, which we to in uhfav-l orable terrain, began after weeks of preparation, The Italians followed in the forenoon. They continued the bombardment of the.r positions we evacuated. Only at , noon did the Italian detachments timidly begin to move towards some portions of our front between the Astach and Sugane valley. We evacuated the trenches in the Adige sector, and continued to retire during Ihf! ■ whole day and the following night, proceeding to some points u oii Monday’bmOrtiing. There wirt iio : fighting od'‘either day. We lost'neither prisoners,OgUns, machineguns nor ‘ other war '‘■•'‘Material. The Italians are iiow approahlliug our new positions : hM MoUtefesto' on Monday morning, hi ft they were repulsed \Vstti heavy losses'.: