Italy

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 10, 10 August 1916, Page 5

Italy

THE FALL OF GORIZIA. '.~ . ! ITALIANS IN POSSESSION. V CAPTURE OF 10,000 AUSTRIANS. Press Association —-Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received 9.5 a.m.) \ London, August o. The Italians captured Gorizia, taking ten thousand prisoners. THE ISONZO OFFENSIVE. ENkMY LINE PENETRATED ON 19-MILE front.

Press Association —Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Gable Association. Rome, August 8. • Our offensive on the Isonzo resulted in the enemy ’me being penetrated on a front of nineteen miles. Our 1 I destroyers shelled the coast. AUSTRIANS SURPRISED. Press Association— Copyright. Published in “The Times.” London, August 9. The Times’ correspondent at the Italian headquarters states that General Cadorria’s Isonzo offensive displays a wonderful breadth of concepi \ tion. The Austrians were completely surprised, the Italians gaining many positions that had previously caused a year’s work. The struggle commenced with a tearful bombardment from Monte Santo to Monfalcone. New batteries placed on the mountain heights were raining shells from Sabotino, which is over two thousand feet high and dominates Gonzia. The infantry emerged from secretly constructed tunnels and galloi ios in the mountain side. They assaulted with incredible rapidity, carrying the first three lines of trenches in twenty minutes, and a redoubt on the summit within an hour. The pursuit is continuing down the slopes straight to the Isonzo. The troops on four peaks at San Michel surrendered unconditionally when under fire from Sabotino. There are great rejoicings at the success of the Italian offensive and its beginning. It is whispered that since Friday the results have been eagerly and anxiously awaited. Italy is hoping soon to place to her credit successes comparable with those at the Somme, Verdun, Galicia, and i Egypt- . . , .

* The successes exceed anticipations, and towns are beflagg,?d and there are processions in the streets, the people believing that the fall of Gorizia, so often declared imminent, is at last about to become an accomplished fact. 4 AUSTRIAN MISREPRESENTATIONS. London, August & An Austrian communique says: We progressed on the heights eastwaid - of Worotcha. The enemy penetrated

our first line eastward of Thuniacz, but were expelled. Our defence near Thuniacz has been transferred from that. position to another westward, owing, to superior enemy forces. Two ..thousand nine hundred and thjrty-two Italians were taken prisoner at the Gorizia bridgehead, but owing to repeated desperate attacks, the defenders wore withdrawn to the east of Isonzo. ! _ ECONOMIC QUESTIONS. Press Association — Copyright. Reuter’s Telegrams '~, j,,.,,,. , IT Rome, August 9- . Mr Runciman (President of the British Board of Trade), has arrived for the purpose of discussing AngloItalian economic questions. AUSTRIANS’ HOPELESS PLIGHT IN THE TRENTINO. Press Association-Copyright, Australian and .N.Z. Cable Association. (Received 11.35 a.m.) Rome, August 9. The Italian victory is assuming increasing importance. Cavalry are in pursuit of the Austrians, who have abandoned the principal positions on the Isonzo and Carso fronts, and are showing signs oof demoralisation. Ihe Austrians cannot hope to extricate themselves from the Trentino where the situation is increasingly tragic.