ITALIAN FRONT.

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

ITALIAN FRONT.

THE ITALIAN OFFENSIVE. LONDON, Sept. 6. Austrian war correspondents vStatc that Monte San Gabrielle, north-east of Gorz, is still held against many massed attacks, Th e Italians captured the summit several times, but were thrown back. AUSTRIAN ATTACKS. REPULSED BY ITALIANS. LONDON, September 6. An Italian official message says: The struggle north-east of Gorz continues. We repulsed repeated attacks south of th e Brestovizza Valley, and destroyed enemy posts on the Trentino front.” THE AUSTRIAN COUNTERATTACK. ITALIANS INFLICT GREAT LOSS. LONDON, September 6. Mr. Perceval Gibbon says: Austrians are counter-attacking between Kostanjevica and the coast. The great east and west valley of Brestovizza gives a highway for the attackers, while the heavily-armed Hermada slopes mn steeply down to the southern end of the Italian line, immediately south of Kostanjevica. The 'Austrians have less advantage in the fighting in the level country. Here they wer e stopped dead and their offensive power destroyed. Austrian shock troops made seven successive attacks, there being only a few survivors. The Austrians at the rear of Hermada charged downhill, supported by furious shelling, and entered the Italian lines at two points. The Italian and British gunners put up a shrapnel curtain and shut out the reserves. The Italians simultaneously attacked and won back both trenches, inflicting heavy losses. Austrian prisoners on the Italian front total 30,000. The enemy losses since the beginning of the offensive are estimated at 120,000. ANOTHER DESCRIPTION. LONDON, September 7. Mr. Percival Gibbon, who is with the Italians says that Austrian attacks on the Carso are proceeding on a ten miles front from Kostanjevica to the coast. The contopr of the ground gives the enemy advantage, especially in the valley of Brestovizza, which is a favourable highway for the assailants around Selo. Enemy shock troops attacked seven times, each breaking against the defence. On the uplands, towards Hermada, the attackers, supported by furious artillery fire, entered Italian positions at tw T o points on Hill 146, overlooking the marshes at the mouth of the Timavo. The Anglo-Ital-ian guns thereupon barraged, cutting off reinforcements. The Italians count-er-attacked and re-established their positions, inflicting very heavy losses on the Austrians.

ENEMY'S DESPERA.TE RESISTANCE. Received 9.45. LONDON. Sept 7. Italian official: North-ewst of Gorizia the enemy ? having suffered heavily, is desperately resisting. UNHAPPY BELGIUM. UNDER THE HEEL OF THE TYRANT. Received 9.40. NEW YORK, Sept. 6. The Belgian Government has given the New York Times’ Paris correspondent a statement describing the sufferings of the Belgian people and impressed workers in "Hungerland” behind the Flanders front. "The press gang system begun in October, 1916, and has been consumed without intermission. Men of 17 to 45 years are sized haphazard, irrespective of health or social position, and employed on military work and construction of railroads. They are treated brutally and beaten unmercifully; complaints of illness and exhaustion are unheeded they are not even, permitted to receive packages of Sood from their families. Six hundred men were taken from Hariebeke, of whom 22 are now dead and 10S reported incapitated. When the inhabitants refused to serve they were forced into service by cruel gangs. The departure of the Americans from Belgium removed the last scruples of the invaders. The cost of living has quadrupled. Butter is IS francs per pound, potatoes, which arc the staple diet, are entirely lacking. The Germans are forcing Courtrai residents to distribute food, and practising a mos»t dastardly form of blackmail.