ITALIAN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, 10 November 1917, Page 5

ITALIAN FRONT.

DECISIVE BATTLE ON ITALIAN. FRONT. FRENCH AND BRITISH MASSING. WASHINGTON Nov 8. Cables from Rome state that a decisive battle is beginning. The Italian army is manoeuvring for position. French and British reinforcements are massing on the Piave River. ITALIANS OUTFLANKED. GERMANS CLAIM 17,000 PRISONERS. LONDON, Nov 9. Our advancing along mountain roads, have broken the resistance of the Italian rearugards. An outflanking movement cut off the retreat of the Italians in the middle Tagliamento between Tolmezzo and Gemona, also the fortified Monte San Simeon Already we have prisonered 17,000, including a general, and taken eighty guns. Fighting has developed on the plain along the Livenza. The Austro-Germans are vigorously advancing. Despite destroyed bridges they forced a crossing and threw back the enemy westward. The total captures are over 250,000 prisoners and 2300 guns. LONDON, Nov 9. Italian official.—We continued our withdrawal yesterday. Larger units retired unmolested There were numerous engagements between the Vittorio hills and the confluence of the Monticano river with the Livenza in which we succeeded in detaining the enemy's advance. Our aeroplanes renewed bombardments of the enemy along the Tagliamento.