ITALIAN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 13 June 1917, Page 5

ITALIAN FRONT.

ITALIANS SMASH ENEMY Dls

FENCES.

INFANTRY MAKE GOOD PRO-

GRESS

LONDON, June 11. Italian, official; —Artillery destroyed the enemy’s complex defences at several points on the Asiago Plateau. Infantry attacks in the ,direction of Mounts Zeboo and Forno carried trio Angelo Pass and nearly the whole or Mount Ortigara. We repulsed enemy attacks southward of Castagnavizza.

ON THE SEA. DRIFTER FIGHTS SEAPLANES LONDON, June 11. The’.Admiralty reports that a Dover patrol drifter engaged ■ five enemy seaplanes and destroyed two, inakingthe occupants prisoners. GERMANY’S INTERNAL TROUBLES.

GERMAN PEOPLE GREATLY DISCOURAGED.

MILITARY DISASTERS HAVING

EFFECT,

Received 9 a.m. ROME, June 12

Swnss telegrams state the political situation in Germany is darkening. The failure to conclude a separate peace with Russia, the lack of submarine success, and the military disasters on the French and Italian fronts is showing the impossibility of a satisfactory peace. This, has produced universal irritation and discouragement. People in public places no longer raise their hats when the Kaiser is mentioned, and the adoration of Hindenburg is ending, and Mackensen and Falkenhayn are forgotten. Government circles realise that a violent reaction is likely, and they are making desperate efforts to avert the threatened storm. ■ i DESPERATE FINANCIAL STRAITS. BORROWING ON EXTREME TERMS

ZURICH, June 12,

The Ge.rman Municipal Finances are apparently reaching a desperate stage. Several towns are borrowing money from Swiss banks on extraordinarily hard terms, and have agreed to take the loans in marks at about scvenpence, undertaking to repay at the rate of over Is. IMPOSSIBLE TO STARVE GERMANY. Received 11.35 a.m. LONDON, June 12. A distinguished neutral just returned from Germany, interviewed, said the people had now accustomed themselves to decreased rations. He does not think Germany can be defeated economciaily but believes they are now producing and will continue to produce just enough food to keep going. THROUGH GERMAN GLASSES. HOLLAND THE PLAYTHING OF BRITAIN. Received 11.40. AMSTERDAM, June 12. Count Reventlow, in the Tages Zertung, gives Holland threatening service, and says the Netherlands’ independence is at stake. When the English reach their goal against Germany in Belgium, then Holland will become politically and economically, the plaything of England. On tlie contrary, if Germany retains Belgium she will have every interest in Holland. ;