ITALIAN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, 22 June 1918, Page 5

ITALIAN FRONT.

HEAVY ATTACKS WEST OF PIAVE REPULSED. ENEMY FORCED INTO NARROW SPACE BY ITALIAN COUNTERSTBROKE. LONDON, June 20. An Italian official message says: The enemy has not renwed his attack from the Asiago Plateau to Montello. We completely repulsed partial actions in the Monte Grappa and Montello regions. We carried out thrusts on the Asiago Plateau, where Allied detachments captured stores and prisoners. Our unceasing pressure shortened the front opened iby the enemy southward of the Monte Belluno railway. Deadly concentrations of artillery fire are not giving any truce to the enemy masses on the battlefront or in the back areas. After a quiet morning on the Piave on Tuesday the battle broke out furiously in the afternoon. The enemy's fresh attempt to cross to the right bank from San An-, drea to Candelu was repulsed on the embankment of the river between Candelu and Fossalta, near the mouth, of the Piave. The strenuous defence tried the enemy sorely. The impetus was broken by our Infantry's unshaken valour. A struggle equally intense, but on a vaster front, raged in the Fosalta sector, southeastward of Meolo and northward of Caposile. The enemy, followed up by us, defended himself desperately, and every yard was the theatre of epic struggles.

Italian and allied aeroplanes participated, dropping fifteen thousand kilos of bombs and firing tons of thousands of machine-gun rounds. The troops were forced into a narrow space on the right bank, and the battle is continuing bitterly. The enemy, in order to preserve the initial advantages he gained, does not heed the immense losses which we have been inflicting for five days. The captures include many guns, while fifty aeroplanes were brought down. Only two Italian and allied machines have' not returned.

AUSTRIAN OFFENSIVE AT MONTELLO SUSPENDED. FOOD AND AMMUNITION RUNING SHORT. " ! LONDON, June 20. Mr. J. M. N. Jeffreys, the "Times" correspondent on the tlalian front, reports that the Montello situation is very steady. The Austrians for tue time being ceased their offensive, they had no opoprtunity to dig deep trenches, and the troops are exposed to artillery fire. The dead are lying thick on the river slopes. The enemy seems indifferent and unable to react against the Italian movement. Prisoners declare that the Austrian force's effectiveness has ended. They have plenty of ammunition but no. food. The troops were persuaded to take the offensive by the promise of rich food to be captured in Italy. Some pontoons of the bridge at Montello have disappeared, probably carried down the swollen river. If so, the Austrians' position is likely to be critical. Swarms of British and Italian airmen are incessantly bombing the enemy. A Hungarian general at Montello, deserted by his staff, lost his way. He refused to surrender, and was killed. Mr. Ward Price confirms the reported statements by prisoners that they have not received food since the offensive started, and that ammunition is running short. There is evidence of widespread confusion in the High Command. Intercepted messages state that units are mixed up, and it is difficult to keep direction. The Italian resistance is most stubborn.

AUSTRIANS DRIVEN BACK. AT MONTE BELLANA. LONDON, June 21. Italian official: In the region of Monte Bellana the whole force of the enemy was driven back yesterday. Towards the north-eastern salient at Montello 1226 prisoners were taken, .and ground was gained elsewhere. ITALIANS' IMPORTANT GAINS. LONDON, June 20. An Italian official communique, issued last evening, says: The battle is continuing bitterly and uninterruptedly from Montenello to the sea. We drove back the enemy on the evening of the 19th to the north-west of the Monte Bulluna railway, compelling him to withdraw the whole front of his attack somewhat towards the north-eastern salient of Montenello, prisonering 1226, and capturing numerous machine guns. The struggle along the Piave fluctuates fiercely on the front lines. The defence is sustained by our troops with great stubbornness and bravery. The enemy on the afternoon of the 19th, attacking with fresh and numerous troops, gained at the outset some

ground fronting Zenson. Our supports, arriving immediately, forced him to retire, and our counter attacks succeeded in greatly reducing "the fighting sector westward of Santa Donna, where we prisonered 513. The CzechoSlavik units have valiantly given their first tribute of blood for the principles of freedom for which they are fighting on our side. From dawn to sunset our Allied airmen and seaplanes participated effectively in the battle. Fourteen enemy machines were downed. French units conducted a successful surprise operation on the Asiago Plateau, and corned positions at oßrtige and Pennar. We completed our gains by capturing Monte Costa and Lunga. Enemey attacks on Monte Corno were repulsed. ITALIANS REGAIN INITIATIVE. COLLAPSE. LONDON, June 20. Mr Ward Price states: Czeeho-Slo-vak troops fighting with the Italians creditably participated in attacks which reduced the Sandona salient, north-eastward of Venice, where 500 were prisonered. The Austrians have now massed five' divisions on the west bank of the Piave. The plainest sign of the collapse of jthj© Austrijajn jfe jjthait !tlie Italians have now gained the initiativo and are attacking to regain lost fragments of their line. Admirlty wireless.—An Austrian official message .says: The battle for Venetia continues. The enemy on the Piave front made violent counter-at-tacks. Bitter fighting occurred for our new position on the Fosseta Canal, on the.vOderzo-Treviso railway, and on Montencllo. In Montenello the battle increased in >equallin|g the great , Carso battles. The Italians at certain points drove forward storming columns six times, but his heavy losses forced the enemy to employ reserves. All his efforts were in • vain Von Borevic's troops completely maintain,ed the captured lines, and Schariezer's infantry divisions drove back the Italians southward of the Tre]viso railway, south-eastward of Asiago. The Italians, again stormed with the same ill-success as on the previous 'days.