ITALIAN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, 13 November 1917, Page 5

ITALIAN FRONT.

FIGHTING IN TRENTINO. LONDON, Nov 11. Italian official. —In the , neighbourhood of Asiago ? the enemy captured advanced positions at Gallic and Monte Ferragwhe, but subsequently were expelled. We captured an enemy vanguard at Tezze, in the Shugana Valley. We repulsed the enemy at Valdobbiadeno Heights, crossed to the right bank of the Piave and destroyed ■ Vidor bridge. 'German official. —We captured a stubbornly-defended bridgehead at Vidor. * Strong Italian forces attacked and pressed back our forces near Asiago. We captured Belluno > The ener.iv made a stand' on Lower

ITALY FIGHTING- FOR LIFE. . CAUSE FOR GREAT ANXIETY, Received 8.35. ROME Nov 13. Mr Gibbons says the Tagliamento served Italy -badly. When the Italians were retreating the river was rushing in torrents, but when the enemy cavalry approached the river had subsided and became a normal rivulet in a track of sand_ The Italians* retirement was glorified by a score of fine fights by rearguards, who brought the pursuers to a standstill again and again. The Bersagliero, who were fighting and march ing continuously for a fortnight, put up a great resistance at Sacile, where house to house fighting occurred. The fact that they were now fighting for their own beautiful country fired the Italians with a new and terrible enthusiasm. Troops to whose defection Cadorna attributed the disaster on October 24 were then in Austrian territory, now they were fighting on Italian yielding by inches. The correspondent regrets he cannot indicate the location of the line it is intended to defend, nor the consequence of failure there, otherwise the world would realise exactly the stakes for which they arc fighting; .but Italy is literally fighting for life.

Other corespondents believe the Italians cannot long hold the Piaye line. The : capture of the important town of Bellano and .the rapid progress in the Sugana Valley tend to inspire anxiety. ■ nI ,

ASSISTING ITALY. Received 11.5i0,;.. PARIS, November 12. It is understood to- have been arranged "that to Italy should be equally divided. BEFORE THE BATTLE. ITALIANS ON NEW LINE. FIRST ENEMY ' SHELLS FALLING. Received 11.30. ' , ■ LONDON, November 12. Mr Ward Price says the Italian army is practically established upon its next river line, and the first Austrian shells arc already falling in the neigh bourhood of the positions where the next great defensive battle will bo fought. The supreme need now is that the Allied plans be carred out with the utmost energy and speed. GIRDING ITALIAN LOINS.

PRINCE OP WALES WELCOMED. Received 11.35, ? ROHE, Nov 12. There is a growing movement in favour of more complete mobilisation, including the closing of theatres. The first batches of permanently disabled soldiers have gone to the front to encourage the fighters. Newspapers note with -pleasure that the Prince of Wales is cordially welcomed in the villages wherever seen. He walks the streets without escort. In the presence of Jtaly’s time of crisis it is regarded as a proof of England’s warmest sympathy. NEW TYPE OF ARMY KITCHEN. A new type of mobile army kitchen, which will serve three hot meals a day to a battalion of 2000 men and will provide enough coffee for 1000 men every 10 minutes has been devised in America. At a- recent demonstration 1750 men of the 102nd Regiment of Infantry were fed in less than an hour. This is probably the first succesful steam cooking unit on wheels and by its use two cooks displace 20 company kitchen units, which require 80 men and 40 horses for operation. The whole cooking unit is mounted on a 4-ton motor yjfehicle, which is iapable of a speed of 15 miles per hour under favourable conditions The outfit is designed to move with or ahead of a battalion on the march. Meals are cooked on the road and when the men halt, the hot food is ready.

PALESTINE

NEARING JERUSALEM. THE TURKS STILL RETIRING. LONDON, November 12. Received 8.35. Mr Massey reports from Gaza that the enemy continues retirement. We are pressing them hard. The Turks are now surrendering freely. Elmineh junction, on the Jerusalem railway, is burning as a result of a heavy shell blowing up an ammunition train standing at the station. We have already, taken five thousand men, sixty guns, thousands of shells and millions of cartridges. The Turks destroyed vast quantities of material which they could ill spare. Our armies arc in the highest spirits. j

THE TURKS HARRIED. VACATING OTHER POSITIONS. Received 11 a.m. LONDON, November 12. Mr. Massey reports that the Turks arc harried by our ceaseless pursuit on a wide front. They arc preparing to leave further important positions. GERMAN MAN-POWER. Received 9.25. LONDON, Nov 12 The Daily Telegraph’s Rotterdam correspondent reports that Hindenburg and Ludendorff are scheming vigorously for prosecution of the war, indifferent to controversies raging over the shufflings of Government offices, coupled with a great winter effort to increase the output of war material.

Hindenburg is initiating further development of man-power. Local authorities in Austria and Germany are new empowered to call up men between ages of 17 and 60, thus completely overhauling the remaining man-power. Attempts at evasion of service are punishable with six months’ imprisonment, or fine of 10 - 000 marks.

SUBSTANTIAL CAPTURES REPORTED. y - . ; ,iH : .L . 'LQNDON, Nov 11. Egypt QlTiciaL—General • Allenby's advance was continued on Saturday. The left wing is in" the neighbourhood of Esdud (ancient Ashdod), The -en‘erny’s rearguard lias occupied a. line along the northern branch of the Wadi Sukerier. The Royal Plying Corps effectually bombjarded the Wadi Surar Junction. Our mounteds on Friday captured five 5.9 howitzers, eight field guns and 710 prisoners. As the battlefield is 600 square miles, the list of booty is incomplete: Warwickshire Yeomanry on Thursday ; neai* Huj, in the face of heavy gun, meahine-gun and rifle fire, charged with' the greatest gallantry a large body of the enemy and ’ captured twelve guns, killing and Wounding the Austrian gunners.