ITALIAN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, 4 July 1918, Page 5

ITALIAN FRONT.

ITALIANS WINS BACK LAST OF LOSSES. LONDON, July 2. An Italian semi-official message says that the recapture of Monte val Bella, Col de Proso and Cot de Chele, wrested from the Austrians the last of their gains on the Asiago Plateau" in the first days of the offensive, "and completely restored the situation prior to the great attack. These positions have been constantly contested throughout the war, because they constitute the advanced flank of the Italians and a jumping-off ground for the Austrians wishing to scale the Italian positions. The victory was due to perfect co-operation between the artillery and infantry reducing the Italian losses to a minimum, whereas the four enemy divisions engaged suffered exceptionally heavy losses. FURTHER ITALIAN GAINS. LONDON, July 3. Italian communique Artillery fire crushed new enemy attacks on Asiago Plateau, inflicting heavy losses. Our operations in the north-western region of Monte Grappa yielded important positions, also 569 prisoners and many machine-guns. We captured on Monte Valbella, Cor del Rosso, and Col de Chele four guns, fifteen trench mortars, fifty-seven ma-chine-guns, and thousands of rifles. The German general Otto Von Bellow, has been appointed to the supreme command of the Austrians on the Italian front.

WHOLESALE CHANGES IN AUSTRIAN COMMAND.

GERMAN OFFICES TAKE CONTROL. Received 11.30 a.m. ZURICH, July 3.

A telegram from Vienna reports sweeping changes' in Austrian commands owing' to their Italian defeat. Field-Marshal -von Kowehs Replaces Conrad, General Krass, who was- General Eugene's . Chiof of Staff, becomes Chief of the General Staff, replacing General von Ard. General von Bulow has been given the supremo command on the Italian front. .

Telegrams from military circles in Vienna attribute the chief blame of the Piave defeat to the Hungarian strike, which crippled the output of munitions. When the attack began it was found thereVwcro only seven days' munitions on hand. The offensive also was hurried because the politicians hoped for success to relieve the political situation.