ITALIAN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 17 September 1917, Page 5

ITALIAN FRONT.

AUSTRIAN POSITIONS ARE .GRAVEYARDS. THEY MUST BE ABANDONED. Received 8.40. ROME, September 16. Prisoners taken at San Gabrielle state Austrian dug-outs and trenches are graveyards, and j that Austrians must shortly abandon remaining positions on the mountain. CAPTURE OF SAN GABRIELLE SANTA CATERINA CUT OFF. LONDON, Sept. 15. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Romo correspondent says the Italians captured Monte San Gabrielle on the 4th, the summit was abandoned during the night, but recaptured on the sth inst. The Italian positions are now strongly consolidated. The Austrians sent five brigades to retake the peak, sacrificing entire detachments. A thousand Austrians were captured in caverns, with many machine guns. Fort Santa Caterina is now cut off and three, enemy battalions arc unable to escape. MOUNTAIN SOAKED IN BLOOD. UNTOLD HORRORS. LONDON, Sept. 15. Mr. Julius Price, at General Cadorna’s headquarters, writes; The titanic contest at San Gabrielle resolved itself into a question of endurance. A wounded survivor from the summit tells that the mountain is absolutely soaked in blood. There is a vast heap of corpses from end to end, many having been lying there for three weeks. I have never seen anything to compare with the horrors, though I have experienced big battles on the Carso. The Italians arc losing heavily, but the Austrian losses arc far heavier owing toi reckless counter-attacks. The bravery of the Italians is extraordinary. They are up against the toughest job ever tackled, but the final result is beyond doubt. ITALIANS STRAIGHTEN THEIR LINE. LONDON, September 15. Wireless Italian official.—An advance rectified our line in the region of Log, in the northern zone of Bainsizza. We took prisoners. Airmen dropped three tons of bombs on the enemy’s communications on the Carso,