ITALIAN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 28 May 1917, Page 5

ITALIAN FRONT.

THE VICTORIOUS ITALIANS

STILL PROEESSING. 85,000 PRISONERS AND MUCH WAR MATERIAL CAPT U RED. LONDON, May 2(5. The High Commissioner cables: Italian official reports state: On the Carso trout heavy fighting still continues, and another 3500 prisoners and much war material were captured, A network of trenches extending from Exmouth and Tcrnavo to eastward of Jamiauo, also the heights of Flondaro and Medeauza were taken. Northwards, after.severe hand-to-hand fighting, the enemy’s labyrinth of defences eastward of Bos comalo and Broken Hill and the trenches round Oastaguavezza wore taken. Northwards of Tivoli the positions were extended to VoJicc. The enemy’s attempt to dislodge us from the important Hill 052 failed, and is still firmly ours. After violent artillorying dense enemy masses made repeated and slubboi'k attacks, but were driven back with heavy losses, and over 300 prisoners were taken. At Hava further progress towards Rogat Valley in the Julian Alps was made. The total prisoners from tire ,14th May up till yesterday number 22,419. BRITISH MONITORS. ASSISTING ITALIAN ATTACK. ROME, May 25. A send (Official message says that with the object of assisting the offensive on the Carso British monitors, with naval forces and Italian aeroplanes, made an effective attack from the Gulf of Venice on the rear of the enemy’s lines, especially on the great air station depots and other important military objects near Prosecco. ITALIAN OFFICIAL MESSAGE.

LONDON, May 25. An. Italian official message says: The battle still , rages on the Julian front from the. sea to Plava. Yesterday wo advanced over very difficult ground, and fought yard by yard through a deep labyrinth of enemy fortifications, which was stubbornly defended. This achievement further adds to Our brilliant successes. The total number of prisoners counted on Wednesday and Thursday was 10,245, including 316 officers. Much war material was also captured . ITALIANS’ SUPERIORITY AS FIGHTERS. PIERCE HAND-TO-HAND FIGHTING STORMING LAST BARRIER TO TRIESTE. Received 9.15. ROME, May 27. Correspondents state the fighting on the Julian front is fay more severe than any previous. Tire Italian front equalled l in 1 ■ violence ‘anything ever witnessed in the present war. The Austrians transported a' number of divisions and .one hundred guns Horn the Russian front, enabling unexpectedly strong resistance to the Italian offence, but the Italians’ dash and couarge was magnificent, and proved capable of overcoming all resistance by a far superior enemy by hand-to-hand fighting, which is the principal feature of the battle, and all the positions were captured at the bayonet’s point.

Austrian losses are far greater than any previously experienced, especially the Hungarians, several of whose regiments -were almost completely wiped out. The Austrians prepared a new system of defences higher up the mountains behind fortifications of Gorizia and Plava. The Anglo-Italians’ heavy artillery is pounding the formidable ues with extreme violence, positions at Hermada, the last bulwark towards Trieste. The Austrians have hurried up two divisions. The battle of Carso continSerious riots and open rebellion are reported at Trieste, owing to the increased brutality of the police and the military towards Italians due to Italian successes. Many civilians, including women, were shot for expressing satisfaction at the Italian successes. DOOR OPEN TOWARDS TRIESTE. LONDON, May 26. Reuter’s Rome correspondent states that it is semi-officially reported that the Italians have mastered the whole zone between Castagnavizza and the sea. Thus only the Hermade stronghold stands between the coast road and the Comen plateau, and Italian action towards Trieste and Laibach is now possible. 100,000 AUSTRIANS EMPLOYED. ROME, May 26. Other reports state that the Austrians employed 100,000 in the Isonzo battle on Wednesday, a third of whom were annihilated. - ,

IF THE RUSSIANS WOULD ONLY ATTACK ROME,' May 27. Austrian prisoners, mostly from the Russian and Roumanian fronts, assert that if the Russians attack near the Carpathians they would speedily have Hungary at their mercy. The general conditions in Austria are terrible, and she cannot possibly resist much longer. The troops ’ food is incredibly bad. They ar e practically meatless. There are no Germans on the Italian front, they having all gone to France. There are still a number of Bulgarians and Turks and a number of German detachments behind the Austrian lines.. AUSTRIANS TAKEN BY SURPRISE LONDON, May 26. Reuter learns officially that no less than ten Austrian divisions, comprising 100 battalions, were concentrated between the sea and Boscomalo, the scene of the great offensive. The success of the attack is attributed to surprise. The Austrians expected a long artillery preparation, but the Italians advanced after only ten hours’ bombardment. The heaviest attacks were on a front of eight kilometres. The greatest advance was two kilometres. The part played by the air service constitutes a record. The Italian air fleet engaged consisted of 46 units.