ITALIAN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 7 September 1917, Page 5

ITALIAN FRONT.

ITALIANS PITILESS .BOMBARD-. MENT. LONDON, September 6. On the Italian front on Wednesday fighting north-east of Gorizio re-start-ed with violence, sufficient to prove that, the Austrians had been Hying low during the,past few days. It has been found that definite deductions cannot b e drawn from the comparative quiescence of the enemy's artillery. If less active than the Italian, it does not necessarily signify a shortage of ammunition. Tuesday's heavy bombardment of Italian communications in and around Gorizia shows that the Austrians are allive to the importance of the present position. The Austrians are continually bringing up reserves and enormous numbers of machine-guns, sacrificing regiment after regiment in the hope of weakening the Italian attacks. Their old formidable trenches are now wiped out. A Homeric struggle has developed There is continuous hand-to-hand fighting. Meanwhile the Italians are pitilessly shelling the Austrians' caves and dug-outs. The latest prisoners state that thousands of wounded were lying for three days, it being impossible to succour them. The Austrian offensive on the Carso no doubt aims at breaking the circle of steel which is gradually closing round Hermada.

THE JULIAN BATTLE .RESUMED. LONDON, Sept. 5. Italian official.—The battle on the Julian front has been renewed violently We captured an important position south-westward of Okroglo. A battlle is raging north-east of Gorizia. We prisonercd yesterday 1088, belonging to ten regiments. The enemy violently attacked between Castagnievizza and the sea. The enemy gained an initial success between Brcstovizza Valley and the sea, but our counter-attack re-estab-'Hshed the line. ROME, September 5. Two hundred and sixty-one aeroplanes participated in a battle air fleet which last night effectively bombarded Pola. The machines returned safely. AUSTRIAN- PLEET LEAVES . POLA. LONDON, September 5. According to Austrian papers, Pola is no longer the principal naval centre owing to destructive air raids. The main 'Austrian fleet has been transferred to Fiume.