ITALIAN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 8 June 1917, Page 5

ITALIAN FRONT.

;,!THE .MONTE .FAITE BATTLE DEATH'S AWFUL HARVEST. LONDON, June 6. The "Daily Chronicle's" correspondent on the Carso front describes the desperate Austrian counter-attack at Monte Faite on the 3rd inst. He says: The Austrians for several days plastered the new Italian positions with shells of all calibres, while the Italians were feverishly striving to dig shelters on the stony slopes. Then the Austrians, in the darkness, launch ed two Hungarian battalions, specially trained as storming troops, to clear the way for the main attacking forces. An Italian staff officer describes them as the best troops yet encountered—big men, in the prime of life. Tliey fought desperately and forced their way into the salient with the assistance of a tremendous barrage. The Italians were threatened on both flanks and fell back, and the Austrian supports began to ascend the slope to the salient—but they never got there! The Italian gunners had learned much in the last few months, and their "curtain fire" shut in the stormers as into a chamber. Then followed a dramatic war, as the famous Romans of the Tiber Brigade, with all Rome's historic traditions inspiring them, swept into the breach. The Hungarian stormers fought like trapped beasts, and a desperate and implacable bayonet and grenade battle raged while the rival artilleries ' stormed with shell on both sides. A thousand dead lie in the sun awaiting burial. They are part of a terrible harvest of the last sixty hours, wherein the enemy at a conservative estimate, have lost eighty-five thousand men. AUSTRIAN AFFAIRS. AUSTRIAN CABINET CRISIS FAILURE TO FORM GOVERNMENT. BERNE, June 7. t Count Andrassy failed to form a Government. The Emperor has entrusted the task to Count Bur.ian, who is regarded as Count Tisza's political vassal. Count Andrassy's failure is considered a personal failure for the. Emperor, who was unable to circumvent Count Tisza's activities. BRAZIL AND GERMANY. BRAZIL JUSTIFIES HER ACTION IN SEIZING GERMAN SHIPS. Received 8.55 a.m.

RIO DE JANTERO. June 7 Brazil's Note to Germany justifies the requisitioning of the interned ships, and recalls the torpedoings, adding that Brazil has not abandoned a state of peace, but that the action -svas taken in order to force the offending nation to make reparation. BRAZIL'S ACTION. REPLY TO GERMAN PROTESTS. RIO DE JANIERO, June 6. Replying to Germany's protest against requisitioning German ships, the Government declared that Brazil acted within the strict limits of the law ROUMANIA RENEWED. PARIS, June 6. The "Petit Parisien's" correspondent who recently visited Roumania reports the situation as greatly improved. Roumania is now better provisioned by Russia and is ready to fight with new strengt-h. They ar© splendidly equipped, especially with