ITALY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 299, 27 May 1915, Page 5

ITALY

THE ITALIANS ADVANCE. IMPORTANT PLACE CAPTURED. AUSTRIANS DESTROY PROPERTY. Tilli KING AT THE FRONT. Received May 20, 10.55 p.m. Rome, May 20. The Italians are advancing a hundred kilometres to a point where the lirst contingents penetrated two to four miles, thus annulling the frontier imposed in ISfll). They captured Ceroijnano, an important gain to the Italians. The Austrians are burning property and destroying public buildings in the part of the Trentino likely to fall into Italian hands. A destroyer bombarding Barletta flew the; British Hag several times. The Italian squadron pursued anif seriously damaged the destroyer. The Giornal liditalia urges Italians to accustom themselves to raids on the Adriatic coast, but the Italian fleet is sulliciently strong to avenge them. Shells were, fired on unfortified towns. The; King is going to General Cadorna's headquarters, and intends to share the ordinary rations of the army.

AUSTRO-GERMAN OFFENSIVE. UMBER OF TROOPS LIMITED. ITALIAN ARMY CONFIDENT. TROOPS MASS AT ONE I'OIXT. (Times and Sydney Sun Services.) Received May 2(i, 5.25 p.m. London, May 25. Home reports that Italy is publishing further official documents to prove that Austria throughout was only scheming to gain time. Italy is mobilising all men from the age of 20 years to iJ'J, before Tuesday. Military experts state that the Italians have massed on a point most dangerous to Austria, and which will most effectually ensure demoralisation. It is reported the Pope will studiously maintain the Vatican's neutrality, permitting Italian Catholics to act in accordance with their own sentiments. Italians, irrespective of party, -have full confidence in the Cabinet. All hospitals and convents on the frontier have been evacuated. Many of the Tyrolese suspected of sympathy with Italy were arrested and taken to Austria as hostages. It is reported that German troops, with Zeppelins and some of the heaviest artillery, are concentrated in the Adige valley, ready to strike. It is believed the plan of campaign "will -he an immediate Austro-German offensive, in an attempt to invade Italy. In the event of failure they will be content to remain on the defensive. The opinion is held at Rome that only a limited number of Austrian and German troops are available, including man v of tho second and third lines, who will lie pitted against fresh and enthusiastic Italians, and the offensive is likely to collapse. Indications are that Germany is irritated at the failure of Austrian diplomacy to prevent the "war, and is determined to strenuously co-operate with .Austria in giving Italy the punishment it considers she deserves, even at the price of great losses. The Kaiser, in a message of personal farewell to the Italian Ambassador at Berlin, asked him to convey) to King Victor the indignation that is felt in Germany. The Berlin press declares: We have been prepared for this, and are not going down on our knees because Italy intervened. It must he admitted, however, that our final 'victory is now further away. Amsterdam reports that Germans are nervous because the publication of Austrian concessions indicates uncertainty of ultimate victory.

MEN FOR DARDANELLES. A FORCE TO MONTENEGRO. Received May 2G, 10.30 p.m. Berlin, May 2G. The newspapers opine that Italy will send 40,000 to the Dardanelles, and a force will also be sent to 'Montenegro to assist in the capture of Cattaro. AN ITALIAN MOVE. SAVES OUR SMALL ALLIES. ITALIANS SHOT AS SPIES. Received May 27, 12.20 a.m. Rome, May 20. A Green Book has revealed the immunity of Servia and Montenegro from attack during the last three months due to Italy, oil February 12, threatening grave consequences if Austria 'performed any military action in the Balkans without previous agreement with Italy. Twenty Italians living at Meran were shot without trial as spies because a railway bridge was blown up.

ITALIAN ADVANCE MADE. FEEBLE RESISTANCE' OFFERED. WAR AND THE VATICAN". Rome, May 25. The Italians advanced into the enemy's territory in tlie Eriulu frontier district. The resistance was feeble. iWc occupied the Cuporetta hcightb between the ludrio and Isonzo, the enemy retreating and destroying bridges and 'burning houses. Paris, May 23. Details from Ancona show that ten torpedo boats and destroyers were bombarding for forty minutes, Ibut wort obliged to retire towards the island of Lissa. Sydney, May Monsiguor Cc.retti, the l'apal delegate, gives no credence to the cabled report that the "Pope lias subscribed .-C-IOIM) to the Italian war fund or to his alleged allotment of £.|(),UOIJ to the Italian victims. The war policy of the Vatioan was alwavs strict neutrality, ife also declared that it was unlikely the Pari, message that the. Pope was about to issue a manifesto approving Italy's intervention and sympathising with the Allies was true. 'The Church had subjects in all belligerent countries, and due care must b" observed not to hurt t : i:. feelings of any section of Catholics. .l!ome. May i'l. Herman and Turkish officers have "jr.e to Tripoli by way of Kensica with

money and gifts for the chiefs, hoping to raise an insurrection. Paris, May 23. I President Poincare, in a message to the King of Italy says: "Tliis new fraternity in amis, this consecration ol their national relations, have united France and Italy for ever. The Allies' armies will he proud to fight to the end with your valiant troops against their enemies in the cause of justice ami libcrtyi." Petrograd, May 2.">. There was a tremendous popular demonstration greeting Italy's participation in tin; war. Amsterdam, Mav 25. Austro-German papers hysterically accuse Italy of attacking in the belief that Austria was moribund.

THE FIELDS AND FORCES. THE FROXTIF.I!. The Austro-Italian frontier oll'ers great topographical dillieulties to armies operating in the face ol opposition from either side. ''The evenis of IKliii, «ays a writer on the subject, "gave Vonet;;: to Italy hut left Austria in occupation of tlx"! crest of the Alps and tin; heads of the principal valleys. From Switzerland to the Julian Alps the Irontier follows the crest of the hills at an elevation of 7(10(1 to 10,1101) feet. A mountainous zone some ISO miles hroad separates the frontier from the Venetian plain. Except in the valley of the Adige there are few facilities fur the movement of masses of troops across this part of the frontier. Between the Julian Alps and the Adriatic the character of the frontier changes. The. ground gradually falls, and there are uncommon obstacles to prevent the advance of a strong Austrian army into Friuli on a broad front. The Tyrol juts out like a bastion into the EombardoVenctian plain. Oil this western flank three roads cross the frontier between Stelvio and the valley of the Adige. The eastern flanks of the bastion are more accessible, and the broad valley of the Adige leads northward into the heart of the Tyrol. Between Krutzberg and Tarvis the Carnie Alps are not crossed by any roads fit for wheeled trallic. Extensive and, in many cases, elaborate, fortifications menace any Italian advance on the Tyrol. A group of ,worl:s lit Riva and another at Frauzcnfcste protect the railway junction, and a powerful fortress at Trent serves as thekeep of the Tyrol and is surroundul ijy a strong girdle of batteries and armoured forts. To the menacing batteries of Tyrol, Italy has replied by a series of w l'ks intended to bar the exits by the chief roads. Verona, on the Adige, is a more ambitious place. It is the reply to Trent, and is surrounded by a girdle of forts pushed well out from the town. To the northeast there are the so-called Mines of assembly in the upper valleys of the Astico, Brenta and I'iave, while northeastward again comes works at Agrodo, I'iave di Cadore, Vigo, and Osoppo. There are no modern fortifications cast of the Tagliamcnto. There is little armour in these Italian forts, but a number of cupolas, have, been recently added to all'ord greater strength. The role of the Austrian garrisons of the Tyrol is to htild out against assaults until the main Austrian army approaches the Brenta, and then to come down from the hills and combine with the main attack. The events of lS(i(i, wle?n General von Kulm, with 1(1,000 mm, victoriously resisted Garibaldi with his ■IO,OOO volunteers, show that the Tyrol has good capacity for resistance.

RAILWAYS. Austria lias one double and three single lines of rail leading to the Italian frontier. Three of these lines lead towards Isonzo, and only one to the Tyrol, and Innsbruck and the Bremmer Pass, the Pustertluil railway connects the two parts of deployment, but it is too near the frontier to be safely used for the purpose of strategic concentration. Narrow gauge lines to improve the local network of the Tyrol and other lines of normal gauge to increase the facilities for deployment near the Isonzo, on the line Villach-Goritz, have been recently prosecuted to aid the strategic facilities. Italy also lias three lines for a concentration on the lines of the Breiita. The railheads for this purpose would be Chioggia, Padua, and \ icen/.a. For a more forward concentration in Vcnetia there are only two lines. With the exception of certain portions of one of these lines, the railways are of single track. Liko Austria, Italy is endeavouring to improve her railway equipment, and has devoted large sums since 1905 to increase her plant and to double certain lines, so that a timely advance to the line of the Taghamento may become practicable.

ITALIAN NAVY. The Itatiim Navy is much more power/ill tliiin the Austrian Navy, and includes six Dreadnought battleships, and cloven pre-Drcadnought battleships, ail of which, except three, are fairly modem chips. There are also ten powerful armoured cruisers. Several fast light cruisers are either in commission or nearly completed, there are 1-1 older cruisers and gunboats, SO destroyers and first-class tropedo doats, 2(1 submarines, 4(1 small torpedo boats, and several mine layers and auxiliaries. The following are the armoured ships:— DREADNOUGHT BATTLESHIPS. Andrea Doria and Caio Duilio, launched 1013 and recently completed; 23,025 tons displacement; 2:1 knots speed: armament: —Thirteen l'-iu, Hi (iin, and 12 small guns and three torpedo tubes. Giulio C'csare, Leonardo da Vince. and C'onte di C'avour; completed 1011; 23,34(1 tons displacement, 23 knots, armament:—Twelve I—iii. 18 4.Tin, and small and three torpedo tubes. Dante Aligliieri, completed 1012; 1(1,4(10 tons; 231 knots; armament:--Twelve 12in, 20 4.7 in, and 14 small guns, and three torpedo tubes. PKli-DKEADNOUGIIT BATTLMSIIIPS. Bendctto Brin and Keina llarglierita; completed 1005; 13.214 tons; speed 101 knots; armament:—Four 1 '-Jin, lour Sin, 12 (iin, and 2S smaller guns, and four torpedo' tubes. Napoli, Noma, Begina Elena and Victoria Emanuele III.; completed 1007(10; 12,425 tons; 22 knots; armamentsTwo 12in, 12 Sin, and 21 small guns, and two 'tojß-do tnlx's, Amiraglio di St. Bon and Kmanuele Eiliberto, completed I'.Hil ; 0(i 15 tons; '.S knots; armament:-- Four loin, eight (iin, eight 'l.Tiu, and 21 ,small gun.-, and four torpedo tubes. lie Umberlo, Sardegna, and Sieilii, completed I*o3-05; 13.00(1 tons; 10 knots armament.:- four (ii ton, tight (im, H> 4.7 in, and 33 small guns.

AIiMOI'KKD CIiUISEKS. Amallii, Pisa, San (iiorgio, and San Marco; completed 1!)0!)-I0; Dh.ili torn;, 2:! knots; armament: - four ll'iii. eight •l..iin, lti Sin guns and three torpedo tubes. Francesco Ecri'uccio, CuUeppe Cariliahli, and Yarese; completed l!l()l-0-l; 72!)4 'tons; lit) knots; one loin, two Sin, 11 tiin, and Hi smaller guns, and four torpedo tubes. Carlo Alberto and Vettor Pisani; completed (i.'i)d tons; If) knots; 12 (iin, six -1 .Till, and smaller .nuns and foul' (orpedo tubes. Marco Polo, completed 18IU: -151) tons; 111 knots; six fi.bin, lour l.Tin, and 10 small guns and four torpedo tubes,