Italy

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 83, 4 November 1916, Page 5

Italy

THE VICTORIOUS ITALIANS. ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLEFIELD. INTENSE BOMBARDMENT AND INFANTRY ATTACKS. Press Association—Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Gable Association. (Received 8.50 a.m.) Koine, November 3. The Italian bombardment of the Carso on Tuesday was intense, but the cannonade on the following morning was still more violent, and then came the climax. At 11 o'clock the artillery suddenly lifted, and the infant!-;: began 'their attack, the.whole lino gaining 500 yards in the Pecinka sector. In the first rush at Pacinka, the neighbouring hills had previously proved stubborn obstacles, biu uio attack this lime could not be gainsaid. -Mist veiled the attackeis, be. the gradual retreat of the Aus-tri.-::s and puffs of bursting shrapnel indicated the progress that was being made, and soon the Italians-pass-ed the summit of Pecinka, Velikihribach, and Lokovica. After midday, the enemy pounded the roads leading towards the crest, beyond which the fight still raged. The battle nearer the sea was much more intense. At one o'clock, the battlefield, which was previously shrouded in mist was now lifting, and large groups of .Italians weio visible crossing the captured crests. In the wake of the attacking line were two long columns of prisoners descending the slopes to Vallona. The Austrians began a heavy bombardment of the captured crests, and the Italian counter-batteries intensified their fire. The victorious Italians solidly occupied the new positions, while the foremost lines steadily pressed forward.

RECENT SUCCESSES.

IMPORTANT ADVANCES MADE. Press Association—Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association, London, November 2. An Italian official report states: — We attacked the Gorizia area, and occupied trenches on the east slopes of the Tivol and San Marco heights. East of Sober Carso front we stormed the bills above Mount Pecinko and advanced a kilometre. • i East of. Segeti we occupied several' points south of the OppacchiasettaLaeastagnevizza road. We took 4731 prisoners, six guns, and many machine guns. Semi-official.--The Austrian positions east, of Gorizia are situate on summits and slopes, intercepted by ravines and covered woods, while the defences on the Cflrso, besides ruined villages, included numerous boundary walls. The principal line of resistance on the Carso was carried. The Italians, who advanced two kilometres in thickly wooded ground up a slope, besides taking 5000 prisoners, inflicted the heaviest losses on the enemy. As an instance, the 21st Landwehr Regiment were 'wiped out. Its staff, three battalion cqnimanders, and 1500 men were captured.

THE AUSTRIAN ACCOUNT.

London, November 3. The Austrian official statement says that the second and third Italian armies, which had been brought to their full strength by fresh troops since the last big battles, opened the offensive in the Gorizia region. It describes the Italian artillery fire as of extraordinary violence. Thereafter the Italian infantry assaulted in massed formation, seven brigades at one point advancing on a narrow front. Tlie statement claims that several attacks were repulsed, but admits the Italians in the northern part of the Carso gained ground beyond the advanced ruined lines, while Borsica remained in Italian hands after the attack by eight divisions of AustroGerman troops had been repulsed. Roumanian attacks south and south-east of Brasso, in Roumanian territory, progressed. Austrian messages report that for three days the Italian bombard-

ment of unheard violence, east o! Gorizia to the sea, destroyed the Austrian defence. The Austrian.-, brought up all their reserves, withdrawing all their forces available in the Trentino, and all the garrisons from the neighbouring towns. The population of Trieste has been reduced to a few officials and military workers.

A BOMBING EXPEDITION.

Rome, November 2. Official.—An Italian airship dropped bombs on the enemy works and I vessels in the San Pietro j roadstead, Se'oenico .Bay, and returned safely, I despite the desperate cannonade of 'shore batteries. ENEMY'S Ht-.AVY LOS^S. FIERCE BATTLE CONTINUES. (Received 11 .'2O a.m.) ftoi-.p, Noverp.be- I. The first dav of the new offensive on the Carso cost the enemy a lobh of fifteen thousand, one-third of which .were prisoners. The 21st regiment and other units were annihilated. 1 There is fine weather, and the battle fiercely continues. The enemy counter-attacks arc foeblo and disordered, the troops being demoralised.