ITALIAN FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, 2 November 1918, Page 5

ITALIAN FRONT.

A BRITISH SUCCESS Received 9.5 a.m. WASHINGTON, Nov. 1. On the Italian front the British have captured Sacilo, on the Livcnza river. ROUTED ENEMY RETREATING. ALLIED ATTACK RESUMED. Received 9.35 a.m. LONDON, Oct 1. An Italian official states: Our success is assuming great proportions. The routed enemy is retreating eastward of the Piave, and is hardly able to withstand our close pressure on the mountain front. Hostile masses are thronging the mountain valleys or attempting to reach the crossings of the Tagliamento. Prisoners, guns, material and depots almost intact are falling into our hands. We completed the capture of Besen massif. Fighting is proceeding for the possession of the gorge at Quero. Elsewhere we have captured the spur between Follina basin and the Piave Valley, and have occupied Serravalle. "We are advancing towards the high plain of Oonsiglio. The Tenth Army has reached Livenza. We resumed the attack in the Grappa region and carried Colcaprile, Colbonato, Asolome, Prassolan, Solarola salient, and Monte Spinoncia. The prisoners- exceed fifty thousand with over three hundred guns.

AN ARMISTICE SOUGHT.

THE AUSTRIAN ACCOUNT.

Received 10.10 a.ini ' LONDON, Nov 1. A wireless Austrian official states: The High Command of the armies early >on 29th October, by means of a Parlementaire, communicated with the Italian Army Command in an effort making for an avoidance of further useless bloodshed, ;the cessation, iof hostilities, and the conclusion of an armistice. The Italian High Command firstly assumed an attitude of unmistakable refusal. It was only on the evening of the 30th that the deputation was permitted to cross the firing line for preliminary pourparlers. ALLIES HARASSING AUSTRIANS. Received 11.40 a.m. LONDON, Nov 1. A British-Italian official states: We ocupiecd Sacile. The Tenth Army has reached tbc line of the Livenza front from Sacile as far south as Brugneat. The Third Army is advancing rapidly southward of the Oderzo-Portoguaro railway. The Fourth Army has captured many important tactical positions in the Mcnte Grappa sector, where the enemy is falling back. The Fourth Army's prisoners number over 13,000. RETREAT BECOMING DISORDERLY LONNDON, October 31. The offensive on the Trentino front is progressing;, while on the lower Piave the Third Army has advanced rapidly. It reached the iLivcnza river at Frangrigo. The capture of Cosen mountain dominates the Piave from the foothills.

The Italians also control all openings in the mountain valleys to the Venetian Plains. Over one hundred villages have been liberated.

Th enemy in the Conegliano sector are burning villages and perpetrating general destruction of every kind.

The enemy's only line of defence is the Tagliamento. The retreat is becoming disorderly at several points. IN AUSTRIAN DIVISIONS IN GRAVE DANGER. VANCOUVER, October 31 The Italian Embassy at Washington reports: Fifteen Austrian divisions between the mouth of the Brenta and the Piavc arc in grave danger. A crisis is impending: The territory reconquered by the Allies yesterday is over 1000 square kilometres. The fighting front now extends over 150 kilometres. An Austrian deputation was allowed to cross the fighting line to arrange preliminary pourparlers for peace with the Italians.