ITALIAN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, 24 June 1918, Page 5

ITALIAN FRONT.

A CHANGED SITUATION. AND LOST OPPORTUNITY. SYDNEY, Juno 22. The Australian Press Associatioa learnß that 11,070 Austrians were taken prisoner and 5 mountain guns \ and 75 machine-guns captured on the British front in Italy, where our coun-ter-attcks recovered ground taken by the enemy. Austrian gains west of Brenta are insignificant, Italian coun-ter-attacks having rendered them unimportant. The Austrians did better on the Piave front, where they occupied a continuous front of 18 miles, no mean achievement, which if they had been able to develop before the Italian reserves are available would have made the situation serious, But on the 18th inst. The situation was altered to the Austrians' disadvantage. Thirty-nine divisions out of fiftynine still gave the Austrians large reserves behind the mountain front, and it was possible they would resume the attack on,this front while keeping up pressure on the Piave. Although the Austrians had been defeated so far it was too early to say they will not attempt to retrieve the situation. The Italian reserves carried out a scries of counter-attacks, broke the Austrian line,, /and gained the banks

of the PiaVe # The enemy's difficulties were increased by the river flooding. The obtaining of supplies and reinforcements by the enemy are rendered difficult now, there being no bridges except one north of Montello, which is being heavily bombed by British i airmen. I No enemy reinforcements have reached Montello since the 18th inst., and the Austrians are used up. AUSTRIAN'S IN ITALIAN LINE. WASHINGTON, June 21. Austrians attempted to creat disorder in the Italian lines. They dressed as Italians, and were' sent into the Italian ranks. Each Austrian so captured was executed. SURPRISES ON BOTH SIDES. LONDON, June 22. The "Daily Chronicle's" correspondent at Italian Headquarters says: The fighting on the Piave is most confused, owing to the dense bush. There are frequent surprises on both sides. An Italian divisional headquarters was almost surrounded yesterday. The staff left their desks, snatched their arms, and fought the enemy detachment until the latter was driven ofr. Two hamlets in the Lower Piave salient changed hands six times. AUSTRIANS CLAIM SUCCESSES. LONDON, June 21.

Wireless Austrian official: The enemy on the 20th, by an effort of undiminished violence, vainly attempted to recapture positions we won: westward of the Piave. ■,. The struggle at Montello increased in violence, we destroying wave after wave of enemy storm troops. There was hand-to-hand fighting on a 12-kilometre front, the Italians throwing in reserve after reserve. We prisonered 3200 on the 19th at Montello alone. The Hague correspondent states that Germany proposes to send 12 divisions to Italy, 12 'Austrian divisions replacing then: on th-j front. DIFFICULTIES OF CAMPAIGNING. LONDON, June 22. Reuter's correspondent at the Italian headquarters, describes the difficulties of campaigning. The whole front is a mass of vegetation, concealing machine guns, while a maze of canals and ditches, with trailing vines overhead, impede a quick advance. Altogther 12,000 Austrians have been prisonered since the opening of the offensive. Mr. Ward Price says: The enemy, using the German system of infiltration, attacks by a constant small stream, of patrol assault troops with specially-trained bombers, bayoneters. flame-throwers, snipers, and machine gunners. The fluctuating fighting produces odd sights. He saw naked wounded men pedalling bicycles, the pressure compelling the immediate evacuation of patients in dressing stations, without clothes.

HINDENBURG AND LUDENDORFF PRESENT. NEW YORK, June 21. Thte-New York Times' correspondent at the Italian headquarters says: with the Austrian generals on the Italian front. The German leaders Hindenburg and Ludendorff conferred gave advice as to the lines on which the offensive should he continued.

ENEMY' HBLD BYBSYWHBBE. COUNTER-ATTACK. ITALIANS' SUCCESSFUL. LONDON, June 22. At 8.30 this evening an Italian official message stated: Enemy pressure at Montello continued strongly on Thursday, but was everywhere held, our counter-attacks regaining ground The enemy attempted advances westward and southward. An animated struggle took place, particularly eastward of the Casa Cheller-Baeuria line, and in the vicinity of Nervesa station We prlsonered 400 and captured two batteries, which were promptly turn? ed against the enemy. We completely repulsed an attack westward of Candelu Our counter-offensive before Fagare and Zenson, begun on Wednesday night, was continued irresistibly, carrying us to the positions of the previous day. The enemy suffered heavily. We prisonered several hundred. The enemy, westward of Sandona Valley, attacked four times against Lasson, being forced to desist by exceptionally heavy losses. Parties of sailors and Brosglieri northward of Cortelazzo daringly broke in the enemy lines, prisonering 200 and firmly retaining the captured position. We extended our bridgehead at Cavaz Uccherina. American airmen participated in the battle for the first time, AUSTRIANS' TERRIFIC LOSSES. 5000, BURIED BY BRITISH TROOPS ; . ALONE. ; , - Received 8.45 a.m. LONDON, June 23. The Daily Chronicle's correspondent at Milan states that Signor Orlando, in an. interview, said the British commander on the Asiago Plateau personally superintended the burial of over 5000 Austrians in 'that sector. The. enemy's losses at Monte : Grappa and Montello, especially along' the Piave, Were terrific. Nevertheless the Austrians' spirits were remarkably high. The officers are now marching at the head of the troops instead of following in the rear. One haul of 2500 prisoners included twenty ofn- r cers i AUSTRIAN FAILURE ADMITTED. WHY IT WAS LAUNCHED. Received 10.45 a.m. WASHINGTON, June 22. Official despatches from Europe say the German newspapers tacitly admit the failure of the Austrian offensive, and declare it was necessary to prevent Italian troops going to France to reinforce the Allies on the Went front. FINDING EXCt/SSE FOE FAILURE i TREACHERY ALLEGED.' ' Received 11.50 ani. •" AMSTERDAM, June 23'; Austrian news via Switzerland attributes the defeat of the offensive to Csocho-Slav treachery. A Viennese newspaper declares traitors supplied the Italians with a plan of the offensive. MAIN OFFENSIVE ON THE PIAVE. ITALIANS' FOREKNOWLEDGE. ' Received 11.10 a.m. ;

ROME, June 23. Many experts consider the main Austrian offensive is on the Piave. They declare the Intelligence Bureau had early and precise information to that effect, enabling timely concentrate o of Italian reserves. AUSTRIANS REALISE .COLLAPSE OF FIRST PHASE. LONDON, June 22. French, critics believe- the collapse of the first phase of the battle is already accepted by the Austrians as final Marcel Hutin states that the Erajpcror Karl has forbidden a second effort, adding that an offensive which gave the defenders 11,000 prisoners will not encourage the Austrians in their illusions. He adds: Public opinion in Vienna, Buda Pesth arid" Prague is greatly impressed by the failure, synchronising with the critical food ,and political difficulties which victories were intended to avert. An Italian official message issued at 10.20 this evening, says: The enemy's offensive has not been renewed since Thursday evening. The enemy concentrated a violent fire in the direction of Montello and the Mt. Grappa region. We, crushed subsequent infantry .attacks. We again enlarged our bridgehead at Cava Zueeherina. We penetrated a post on the Asiago Plateau and captured the garrison. We downed ten .aeroplanes.

AUSTRIAN,., CLAIM 40,000 , ■ PRISONERS. LONDON, June 22. A wireless Austrian official message, issued at midnight, says :We repulsed Italian attacks at Montello, and westward of Sangona. The enemy, between June 15 and 20, lost 42 aeroplanes. Prisoners now number 40,000, including a few of the Czecho-Slovak Legion, who were immediately subjected to the treatment prescribed by martial law .