ITALIAN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, 3 November 1917, Page 5

ITALIAN FRONT.

■ f GALLANT ITALIANS. KILL 30,000 HUNS. ANGLO-FRENCH REINFORCEMENTS. ' ARRIVE ON THE TAGLIAMENTO. Received 10.50. NEW YORK, Nov 2. Cables from Rome state that 30,000 Germans, including two divISTBn generals were killed on the B'ainsizz.:. Plateau. Anglo-French reinforcements have arrived''on the Tagliamento. THE ITALIAN DEFEAT. SOME THRILLING DETAILS. UNPRECEDENTED ITALIAN VALOUR. Received 10.50. LONDON, Nov 2. War correspondents pay tribute to the courage and tenacity of the Italian third army during the retreat. The rearguard performed prodigies of valour). Despite persistent enemy shelling they covered the witnurawal of guns by repeatedly charging the advancing Austrians, five times driving them back into Vallone. When the Austrians were likely to occupy positions commanding Isonzo bridges, troops on the Carso bravely resisted while the artillery by superhuman effort man-handled guns ever the Isonzo.

Bersaglieri and Alpini specially dis\ tinguished themselves. The Alpini at Monte Nero appear to have fought until exhausted; they were still, resisting on Saturday, three days after the Germans burst through, living on one day's rations. Aviators last saw them bravely holding positions and dropped bread upon- their lines. A wounded officer who managed to escape from Monte Ner<s states the appearance of" Germans' in ' their rear was-an almost overwhelming surprise. It''' fraiispir'cs' that' Germans cleverly deluded the "Italians by leaving themselves ' a '"clear-passage oh one small sector while they rained shells on the remainder of the- front Bombardment was so terrific that the Italians were utterly helpless. While it lasted they could only shelter in caverns and dugouts. Gas shells were particularly effective. When the .tornado cease 1 the ' mischief had already been done, because during the drumfire and amid thick clouds of smoke and gas the Italians were unable to observe the small sector left unshelled. Th^ Germans meanwhile broke through this sector and when the Italians prepared to meet the oncoming foe they found themselves cut off in the rear

BIG BATTLE PENDING. ITALIANS MAKING A STAND. Received 11.10. ROME, Nov 2. The Austro-Germans are risking everything upon completing the Italian rout before the Allies arrive. A great battle is impending upon the plains which will perhaps decide the whole war.

ITALY MAKES A STAND ENEMY PATROLS REPULSED Received 10.50 LONDON, November 2 An Italian message states there is reciprocal artillerying on the Tagliamento. Our machine gun fire repulsed enemy patrols, which advanced to the river banks. GERMAN POLITICS. HERTLING ACCEPTS CHANCELLORSHIP. AMSTERDAM, Nov 1. The Cologne Gazette states that Hertling, yielding to the Kaiser's pressure conferred with the Reichstag party leaders and reached an understanding. He decided to accept the Chancellorship and the Prussian Premiership. The Vossiche Zeitung states that Hertling has accepted the Reichstag members' conditions, viz., prompt suffrage reform in Prussia; the mitigation of the political censorship and state of siege; and the adoption of a foreign policy in accordance with Germany's reply to the Pope's peace Note. Hertling had an audience with the Kaiser, who, it is understood, favours the Prussian suffrage project.