ITALIAN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, 30 November 1917, Page 5

ITALIAN FRONT.

CAUGHT UNDER ITALIAN .GUNS. ENEMY’S MASSED TROOPS IN MOUNTAINS. LONDON November 28 An Italian official message reports that a number of batteries concentrated their fire on enemy troops massed and moving on the Asiago Plateau, the Primolano Basin, and northward of Col Della Bcrrctt and the Middle Piave. A high military authority has announced definitely that the Italian crisis has passed.

ARTILLERYING IN ITALY. ITALIANS PUNISH ENEMY BOATS Received 10.25. • ROME, November 29. An Italian official states there is reciprocal. artiUcrying on the whole front. Our batteries carried out destructive bombardment on enemy boats on the 1 Lower Piave, and repulsedl heavy enemy attacks at the confluence of the Suscizc and Vojussa in Albania. THE IMPOSSIBLE HUN. CHILDREN USED AS SHIELDS. Received 8.40. ROME, November 29. The Idea Nazionale states that during fighting at Zeuzone the Germans used peasant women and children as shields, and shot them when compelled to retire. AUSTRIAN AIRMEN’S THREAT. ROME, November 28. Austrian airmen dropped leaflets stating that they would attend mass at Saint Mark’s immediately. A great crowd at Saint Mark’s after mass and avowed to fight to the last to prevent the Austro-Germaus desecrating Venice. Naval brigades, accustomed to marshes, have transformed the dykes into trenches, ensuring communications through the labyrinth of canals.

ENEMY’S LATEST MOVE. LONDON, November 29. Router’s correspondent at the Italian headquarters says: The enemy having vainly hammered the valleys on both sides of Mt. Grippa, arc now attempting to descend from the Sette Comuni Plateau, in the hope that thej threat against Vicenza will induce the main Italian army to withdraw from the Piave tine. The British continue to concentrate in their assigned positions. SECRET TREATIES. DENIAL BY BRITISH MINISTER. LONDON, November 28. In the House of Commons, in reply to a question, Lord Robert Cecil said it was untrue that the secret treaties published at Petrograd revealed' that the Allies were committed to vast territorial aggrandisement.