ITALIAN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, 30 October 1917, Page 5

ITALIAN FRONT.

FIGHT TO A FINISH. AUSTRO-GERMAN ONSLAUGHT ON ITALY. OFFENSIVE ON TREMENDOUS SCALE. ROME, Oct 28. War correspondents are unanimously of the opinion that the Aus- ■ tro-German offensive means a fight to a finish, because Germany is determined to seek a political victory over Italy's stubborn resistance to German pacifist activities. Germany } aiming at the disruption of the Entente, has planned an offensive on a tremendous scale. Troops and transports for weeks have been pouring from the Balkans and Russia, which fronts are now almost stripped_ The armies include some of the first German troops. All are well equipped with artillery 1 and machine-guns. ' The latest bulletins indicate that the Italians have not yet stemmed the assaults. THE ITALIANS FAILED. ALLOW ENEMY TO GET THROUGH ENEMY NOW ON ITALIAN SOIL. LONDON, October 28

Wireless Italian official.—The failing resistance of some units forming the second army, retiring in cowardice without fighting, or surrendering, allowed the Austro-Germans to penetrate the left wing of the Julien front. The valiant efforts of our troops were unable to prevent the enemy advancing into Italy’s sacred soil. We are with drawing to a line according to plan prepared. All stores and depots in the evacuated places have been destroyed. The record of so many mem. morable battles successfully fought by our brave soldiers during two and ahaif years’ war is sufficient to assure the commander-iu chief that the army in whom the country’s honour has been safely confined knows how to fulfil its duty. AUSTRIANS OCCUPY GORIZIA. ITALIANS-WITHDRAW ACROSS " . . , THE ISONZO. ; ■ ■ AMSTERDAM, October 28., ' A Vienna official report states that the Austrians have occupied Gorizia and the Italians have withdrawn , ivnr.d across the Isonzo. . • r., . GERMAN CLAIM COMPLETE SUCCESS. \'! t ' 'BO,OOO PRISONERS AND 600 GUNS. LONDON, October 28, ■ German official report.—The rapid of the united attack on i the Isdhzo was entirely successful on -Saturday, when a powerful thrust threw back Italians who were seeking to prevent us emerging from the mountains. We entered Cividale, i which was burning. The Austrians and Germans took Gorizia early in the morning prisoners now total 80,000, with (500 guns.

ITALY’S GRIM ORDEAL,

LONDON, October.. 28. Military critics admit that the offensive is a grim ordeal for Italy, and say it may be necessary to speedily come to her aid, especially with artillery reinforcements. REINFORCEMENTS DISCUSSED. LONDON, October 28. It is authoritatively stated that the reported number of enemy troops which recently arrived on the Italian front is grossly exaggerated. So far as is known, only five German divisions arc 'in the Isonzo front, of which only three have been definitely identified by the Italians as participating in the attack. Possibly another German divisiin has arrived, but this is not engagin the attack. Two out of the five above mentioned divisions came from the Western front, where they had suffered heavily at the hands of the British, and where they were replaced by two divisions, from Russia, The Germans strength on the Western front is therefore undiminished; indeed, it has been increased by two divisions since 'August Ist. The remainder of the German reinforcements||on the Italian front have been transferred from Russia and Roumania.

ITALIANS MAKING A STAND. THE AUSTEO-GERMANS CHECKED GERMANS EVACUATING VERDER PENINSULA. Received 8.40. WASHINGTON, October 29. Official advices state that Cadorna is making a stand at the Tagliamento. river. The Italians are now checking the Austrian advance. The Germans have evacuated the Verder Peninsula.

aiIHIND THE ITALIAN r ;MAN PRO PAGAN DA STTCCEStoFUL. LONDON, October 27. Mr. Ward Price writes: The insidious and widespread German propaganda in Italy accompanies the offensive. Cadorna’s measures on the new line of defence should enable the troops fighting on the heights to re tire on the first support. i Regarding the Austrian reinforcements, only two Austrian divisions arc j arc known to have arrived on the Italian front during the last month, but possibly two others recently arrived, j although they have not yet been identified. The total reinforcements therefore, known to have arrived on the xtaliau front amount to only seven divisions, and the enemy’s success is entirely due to the presence of three to five German divisions, who attacked the Plezzo Tolmino front. ROME, Octbeor 28. Signor Orlando has been asked to form a Cabinet. It is anticipated there will be few changes in the Ministry at present. A GERMAN REPORT. Received 10.20. A wireless German official states that the second and third Italian armies arc retreating westwards. We arc pusuing them rapidly between the mountains and the sea. We have captured 100,000 prisoners, and 700 guna. AN ITALIAN SENSATION. A KING’S TELEGRAM READ. Received 11.20. LONDON, October 29. The Morning Post’s Rome correspondent says: During the recent debate in the Italian Chamber, Signor Labriola caused a sensation by reading a telegram from King Nicholas to the late Emperor of Austria, saying, '‘Your troops having occupied Montenegro I ask for an armistice and peace. Your generous heart cannot be cruel to my people. ”

Francis,-Joseph, replied^ am glad? to learn* ; -Y 'wishedpeaces which shall be made" ‘o«"~’Conditions Which arc hfroady* khowm’f ' -t; i. \ ; ;V: /} J ''i- 5 ■* r y :: r . ll*i: i '< \{\J'■ ; 11\; w H VAN AMERICAN OPINION. MOST SERIOUS REVERSE SINCE THE MARNE. Received 11.10_ WASHINGTON; Oct 29. A high military authority says the drive will play havoc with the Italian which is the most serious matter for the Allies since the Marne. According, to other information the Allies wall rush to, the assistance of the Italians in men and big guns, FRENCH , TROOPS. . FOR THE ITALIAN FRONT. Received 10.20. LONDON, October 29. The Central News states that the French Cabinet has decided to send troops to the Italian front. ITALIAN ARMY CORPS OVERPOWERED. HUNS USE SPECIAL GAS. Received 11.10 . LONDON, October 29. Mr Ward Price, writing from Italian headquarters, says the truth is that the enemy overwhelmed a single corps of the Second Italian Army, and forced its way into the gap thus formed obliging the Italians to evacuate Bainsizzia. The German attack was the more formidable owing to the use of Special gas before the bombardment from unsuspected batteries. This broke the Italians’ resistance. Neither Italy nor th§ Allies should exaggerate the gravity of the position.

EXAGGERATED REPORTS. UNFAIR TO RUSSO ROUMANIANS. ITALY CONFIDENT OF SUCCESS. WITHOUT THE ALLIES HELP. LONDON, October 28. An authoritative statement exaggeration of the enemy’s strength is unfair to Russians and Roumanians, who, despite the Russian collapse, still retain as many enemy divisions on their front as there were when the Russian offensive began last July. It also suggests that the, Italians were left to bear the brunt of a numerically superor enemy. This is not the case as the Italians were fully prepared for the attack and confident of success without help from the Allies. They arc in considerable numerical superiority to the enemy on the whole front. This exaggeration also gives a false impression of the enemy’s powr transporting large forces from ca? J to west in a short time.