ITALIAN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, 11 December 1917, Page 5

ITALIAN FRONT.

I BRITISH ON PIAVE RIVER. } AUSTRIANS POURING IN REINFORCEMENTS. THEIR TREMENDOUS LOSSES. Received 8.55. LONDON; Dec 10. Mr Ward Price, writing from the Italian front, says the British soldiers greatly appreciate the change from the Flanders mud The enemy opposing us has not yet appeared in force, or established positions on his side of the Piave River. Montello, which forms part of our sector, is a curiously sßaped, nog’s back rising to a thousand feet. There is another lull on the Asiago plateau, but Conrad is reinforcing daily, men and guns pouring the line~"df the Trent to Parimolano. Sfx divisions are concentrate!! off a six mile front. The enemy front line troops have to be relieved daily owing to the losses inflicted by the Italian' machine gun and rifles, which are as important as shells In tms “ mountain warfare.

FRENCH TROOPS* ENGAGED. HOLDING IMPORTANT POSITIONS. Received 8.55. LONDON, Dec 10. Reuter’s correspondent in Italy says the first shots have been exchanged between the French, commanded by General Duchesne and the Austrians. The sector occupied by the French was one of the most dangerous and exposed on the whole front, and its strong fffmost importance It has been organised on the same scale as in Prance.

A HUNNISH PROCLAMATION.

ITALIAN PRISONERS WORKING UNDER SHELL FIRE. i ' ■ > Received 8.55. LONDON, Dec 10. The Gazetta del Populo publishes a proclamation ordering men, women, and children in the Udine to work in the fields from four in the morning till eight at night, threatening those who are lazy with imprisonment and beatings. Italian prisoners are compelled to work under - sheTT-iTre. BRITISH HOLD IMPORTANT LINE. ROME, December 9. The Anglo-French have taken over part of the front line, the British occupying rugged trenches on Montallo, crossing between, the mountain front and the' Piave line. AN IMPORTANT SECTION. LONDON, December 10. An Italian headquarters correspondent states that the Montello hills, which the British strongly hold, extend for ten miles and are situated in a curve formed by the Piave where it debouches from the mountains. The position commands thirty miles of the Piave. Valley and overlooks the two main roads whereby the enemy can invade the country from Feltre. The Montello hills form the cast bulwark in the way of the Austro-German descent from the eastern side of Monte Graffa.

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