THE ITALIAN CAMPAIGN.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 280, 20 August 1915, Page 5

THE ITALIAN CAMPAIGN.

ITALIANS GAIN POSITIONS'. . ROME, August 39. Official: We captured the second line trenches in the Bacher Valley .in the Sexten region. Our troops in the Montenegro sector, advancing on the Tarsix crest, towards Javojziek, expelled the enemy from their trenches. We occupied several trenches at Searta Lucia height, making prisoners of 200. The attack on Carso was a brilliant success. The enemy’s violent attack on the centre was checked. We won some ground, enabling us to occupy an important position westward of Marcottini. ROUMANIA, BULGARIA, AND GREECE. GREAT ACTIVITY. ROME, August 19. The Government has received reports from Roumania, Bulgaria, and Greece that military preparations are prceeding with intense activity. This is taken as an indication that these countries are nearing a decision in regard to the policy they intend to pursue. A FRENCH REPORT. IMPORTANT CAPTURES. (Reed 9.20 a.m.) PARIS, August 19. A communique, states: Our attack has mad s us masters of the junction of the Bethune'Arrab', and' Ablain,Angres reads, where the German position formed a salient in our front line

We repulsed several enemy’s coun-ter-attacks. Our artiT-ejry overcame German batterie s and bomb throwers near La Fontaine aux Chamies. There is violent continuous fighting at Linge summit. We captured another trench on the crest of Schratzanell, taking many prisoners. MUNITION FACTORIES. LONDON, August 19. Munitions establishments have beenbrought under Government control. CONFIDENCE IN GEEMANT. < NOTHING BUT WAB THOU HOT OP. LONDON, August 1?. 1 * 'Neutral,' ’ ccntinuing his experiences, says: Probably the neutrals w-bc* leave Germany at the present time will have a feeling akin to release from prison. A harshness and arrogance which are intolerable is increasing, and in all the German States the people are' equally harsh. The former popular anxiety after the FaLklands battle, thefall of Tisngtao, and the unsuccessful western efforts, is now' replaced by ait exuberant confidence, which is manifested unpleasantly in various directions. Foreigners travelling in war time on the railways are .insulted. Germany in war time has an intensity which it is almost impossible to realise. The country is doing and thinking of nothing else. The four great moulders of publfic opinion—the press, the picture theatres, speech, and pulpit —are all under Government direction. The whole atmosphere of officialism is aggression. As the lonely stranger visiting Germany unpleasantly realises, nothing is permitted to stand in the way of German hostility to including Americans. A violent antiAmerican propaganda is proceeding in the newspapers, the music halls, and the picture theatres. The Government has stopped the circulation of the most virluent and obscene of the anti-Brit-ish postcards, and also the “Gott Strafe England” stamps. “Discipline” has now r replaced the famous “kultur.” The Germans say, “Our discipline foresees everything, and does everything. The Government thinks and acts —we work.” It seems impossible for a nation of 70 millions to think as one man; yet it is true of the; Germans. They arc contemptuous of Austria, whose attitude is generally one of depression, w'eariness, and almost of despair. The war was neverpopular there.

GERMAN OPINION DIVIDED. BELGIUM’S FUTURE DISCUSSED. (Times and Sydney Sim Cables) NEW YORK. August 19. The New York WorM’s eorrespomlent declares that the Kaiser. Count Yon Bethmann Hollweg. and Herr Jagow desire the restoration of Belgium. The country is split upon this and other questions. Powerful military elements are urging annexation until an* internal agreement has been arrived, at. It is not likely that any efforts t« end the war will be successful.