ITALIAN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 21 May 1917, Page 5

ITALIAN FRONT.

ENEMY ATTACKS BROKEN.

PRISONERS TOTAL 6432,

LONDON, May 18. Italian official. —We are fortifying position eastward of Gorizia. Repeated enemy attacks at various points were broken. Prisoiners total 6432. AUSTRIANS ADMIT ITALIAN PROGRESS. LONDON, May 20. An Austrian official report, after declaring that Italian mass attacks on the Vodice heights on the 18th inst. were repulsed, admits that the Italians, as the result of a weeks’ fighting, have extended their bridgehead at Plava two kilometres. ’ HEAVY AUSTRIAN LOSSES. ITALIANS HOLD THE KEY TO POSITION. ROME, May IS. The battle against the fortifications eastward of Gorizia has been extended and is proceeding favourably. Austrian losses include several divisions. Monte Santo is the key tj the whole defence, and may be considered to be taken, because the Italians occupy positions near its summit.

RUSSIAN AFFAIRS. RUSSIA DECLARES HERSELF Received 10.40. NEW YORK, May 20. . The New York Sun’s Petrograd corespondent cables that the crisis is past now, and there is no question of Russia’s loyalty. | ANNEXATIONS AND INDEMNITIES PETROGRAD, May 18. Annexations and indemnities continue to be the vexed question. As the result of Wednesday’s negotiations between Government and the Council the former suggested a formula without aggressive policy or punitive contributions. The Government hoped that thereby Russia would hold her own [ views and war aims, leaving the Allies f to formulate their own terms. The Reconstructed Provisional Government has issued a proclamation [ that it will be guided by the spirit of | liberty, equality and fraternity It rejects the idea of a separate peace, but aims at a general peace without annexathe rights of nations to decide their orvn affairs. It is convinced that the tions and indemnities on the basis of defeat of Russia and her allies would not only be a calamity, but would postpone world-wide peace. It firmly believes that ‘the Russian army will not suffer the Germans to destroy the Western allies and then throw themselves on Russia. PETROGRAD, May 19. The Minister of War has issued an order to the armies stating that the country is endangered. Everyone must do Ills share in defending the country. ' No requests for resignation by a high command in a desire to escape responsibility in ths grave time will be entertained. Deserters from the army and navy are ordered to rejoin by the 28th under threat of severe punishment. Generals commanding armies have returned to the front after conferring with the Government. ■ " LONDON, May IS. The Times views the Russian , position optimistically and urges the : .Ruir;' !piro to shownpafient confidence in the j ‘RhSsia# 1 people’s determnatidn to ba j faithful tqr the Allied cause and), woifo' out'-Their. own salvatidn iuHlieir own ■AV? . . I way: ’ The present' •auguclios; are; in favour of this being accomplished. The i American " loan is a striking, proof of American belief that Russia will wea- 1 then the storm, t „.■ 1

The Daily' Chronicle b Petro-grad ,cor- i; respondent says that General Alexioff, interviewed, said M. ivereiisjy’s appointment as War Minister-is intensely satisfactory to all ranks. Already there arc signs of improvement in the army. If the Government was invested with undisputed authority and un- , hindered by irresponsible outsiders the , army would soon be restored To its for- j: mcr strength and organisation. 1 !’ PETROGEAD, May 18. j • CabinQ,t has been constituted. It in- | eludes six Socialists.

Generals Alexieff, Bruslloff, Gurko, Dragomlroff and Scherbatscliaff- attended several conferences with the Government on. the question of munitions and supplies. It is announced that the position is Improving, and it is understood that Generals Bnisiloff and Gurko have wthdrawn their resignations.

PARIS, May 19

The Matin quotes from the Russko Jeslovo a revelation made’ by. Count de Witte to a journalist at the beginning of the war showing that the Czar made a secret offensive and defence treaty with the Kaiser when France was embroiled in the Moroccan affair. Count de Witte declared that he secured the abrogation of the treaty because it was not signed by the foreign ministers of the respective countries. ON THE SEA, FRENCH DESTROYER MINED. Received 10.5. PARIS, May 20. The destroyer B'outefeu has been mined and sunk. A few lives were lost. STANDARDISED SHIPS ALMOST READY. Received 9.10 a.m. LONDON, May 22. In thc.jHouso of Lords Lord Lvtton stated that some standardised merchantmen. would be ready by July FIGHTING IN ADRIATIC. LONDON, May IS. Th c Admiralty reports that on Tuesday Austrian light cruisers and destroyers raided the Allied drifter lino in the Adriatic and sank fourteen British drifters. They claim to have taken prisoner 72 members of the crews. Allied warships and destroyers chased off the raiders. Italian airmen attacked them off Cattara, to whore a cruiser, badly afire and sinking, was towed. Ihe British admiral reports that a second cruiser was badly damaged. The admiral adds: “While chasing the Austrians a submarine torpedoed the warship Dartmouth, which returned to port. Three wer e killed, five, are missing, seven were wounded.