ITALIAN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, 28 December 1917, Page 5

ITALIAN FRONT.

ANOTHER DESPERATE STRUGGLE ENEMY MAKES SOME PROGRESS. LONDON, Dec 26. Italian Official: —The struggle on the Asiago Plateau recommenced at dawn yesterday. The enemy concentrated between Col Dell Road and Val Prenze la Maise. They were unable to advance beyond the Sassoe. We recaptured the Col Dell Rosso and Monte Valbella, but were unable to retain them. Our barrage checked the attack on the left bank of the Brenta River. DISASTER TO AUSTRIANS. 20,000 SACRIFICED ON CHRISTMAS EVE. ROME, Dec 26. Wireless. —Snow is falling abundantly throughout Italy. Conrad’s offensive on the Asiago Plateau is considered to have failed. The latest attacks were fatal for the Austrians. Conrad marched his troops troops not to attack, but to IfiSSghter, under showers of shells from hundreds of the Italian guns. Approximately 20,000 were uselessly sacrificed on Christmas Eve. The impression created was disastrous, even a< the Vatican, where such a crime was not expected from very Catholic Austria.