ITALY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 311, 10 June 1915, Page 5

ITALY

PROGRESS OF THE CAMPAIGN. ITALIANS' VKiOKOUS OFFENSIVE. VON HINDRXBERC SAID TO ISK IN Till: TYROL. Received June 10, 1 am. ' Rome, June 0. The (luel for Toloinn continues with unabated fierceness. The Italians ;it Montero are pouring hundreds of high explosive shells into the Austrian entrenched positions. The Italian cavalry, with matchless dash and bravery, seized the eastern bank of the Tsonzo, after swimming a flooded river. The Italian artillery are markedly superior. The Austrian object in bombarding Vaeetle Duinio, amagnifiicent residence of the Hohenlobe family', is the possession of the. (Julf of I'anxano, which will be a strong base against iMonfalcone.

Destroyers damaged the Duino railway, preventing the Austrians' supplies and reinforcements reaching Trieste.

Berne, June fl.

It is reported that General von Hindenburg remarked that he had finished with the "Russian nibble," and could now turn his attention to the Italians. It is rumored that General von Hindenburg is in the Tyrol. WHY GERMANY HESITATED. Rome, June 8. The Secolo interviewed a well-inform-ed personage, who stated that the reason why Germany had not declared war on Italy was because she first desired to secuns an undertaking from Austria not to conclude a separate peace. The Kaiser did not move against Italy until Austria had committed herself to sacrifice her last man, her last taalcr, and hijr last inch of territory. On the otter hand, overtures had recently! been made to the Triple Entente on behalf of Austrian* who do not wish to sacrifice the dual monarchy to the Kaiser's pride or to their own ruler's blindness.

AN AUSTRIAN TRAP FAILS.

(Times and Sydney Sun Services.)

London, June 8. A correspondent states that before abandoning the advanced positions on the frontier the Austrias arrested thousands of Italian .sympathisers, and told the inhabitants that the troops would violate women and pillage and destroy everything. The people promptly evacuated the towns.

The Austrians barricaded the passes withi chains interwoven with wire entanglements, and burnt and destroyed bridges and retired to strongly protected mountain positions. The Austrians purposely left the rich valley of the Isonzo open, and hoped the towns being unprotected w .d lure the Italians into the trap .elicving the ardor of the troops wo- .1 cause them to occupy them and enable the Austrians to decimate them from the surrounding hills. The Italians did not enter, and instead are assailing the Jiills.

NAVAL ACTIVITY. Home, June 8. The naval staff report the third bombardment of Monfalcome. Three enemy batteries near the Castle of Puino were shelled by our destroyers. The latter silenced the batteries and set the castle on firiL\ The destroyers returned unharmed. Cur dirigible again bombed the military position at Pola. The Italians captured Cortina after a difficult ascent of a rocky mountain range and the perilous occupation of a ridge. Here they were nearly outflanked by the Austrian infantry, tat the mountain batteries, were cleverly brought up in the night and opened a deadly fire and cut off the Austrians' retreat. They were ob!ip;<l to withdraw to n pine i forest. The Italians won a fortress .armed with the famous Skodwa guns. Official: All along the frontier our advanced troops are capturing important positions against feeble resistance. Along the Isonzo from Capowtto to the sea we ,'iavc occupied the most suitable :places for crossing and installed ourselves at the bridgeheads'. .Severe fighting continues on the upper Isonzo. We 'have gained a sound footing on s>oth banks and seriously threaten Tolihino. The cavalry crossed to the eastern bank ■of the lower Isonzo and are entrenching.

ADVANCE ON THE ISONZO.

Wellington, June 0.

The High Commissioner reports, under dale London, .June 8, l-2.fi p.m.:— All along the frontier the Italians continue the capture of important petitions against foMilc opposition. In tliv upper vallevj bevond tile Capoivllo Mountains the Italians have

gained a. sound footing on both banks of tile Isoi-./ai ad are seriously (hvealeuing Toloiim, Lower down the stream 'ltalian cavalry have crossed to the eastern bank ant), entrenched. Their lossc. ; j were comparatively slight.

ii'j

TURKS DRIVEN BACK. PRODUCTION OF MUNITIONS. A TORNADO OF .SHELLS. Petrograd, dune 8. A Caucasian coninmniipic states that the Turks attempted the offensive along the coast, hut were driven back. A 'battle in the passes of Chine and Djaylaba ended in the precipitate retreat oi the Turks to the mountains. i\Ve occupied! a village on >'io shores of Lake Van.

Manufacturers are endeavoring to coordinate tin- r. source; <if the Kinpirc. All establishments Hitli.-i-t-i. mamifacLuring luxuries are being adapted for th" production of war munitions. 'J hoy arc running day ami nijrht with three shifts. The internal production of munitions increaed -ov?iifold during the first half of the vear of the Avar.

A. staff order found on the river Bzura, says: "By Clod's dispensation we have received a'new and -potent weapon in ga* which vanquishes our enemies. Our object is to assert the mighty power of Germany over F.uropo. \\ ithin (wo months our enemies will lie subdued."

It is estimated that forfv German nrniv corps are in Halieia. It- is expected (hat the battle will last another month.

A correspondent cd Hi- Xovoe Yrcmva that on Hie morning of Hie "Jlth (he Germans brought up large numbers ol heavy guns drawn by motors. 'I here wer■■' TOO.fKlf) shells fired at Kadymno. 11 Hi explosive, shells swamped tlio Russian trenches and broke among Hie divisional staffs and reserves. The. curtain of bursting shells rendered Hie ,„ ( ', trendies invisible. It, was uu- \]„. ~'ims'" \ T evcr!lioloss two vc" ; me»is hold -out.'keenim.' (lie eneiuv aM<ar until H; ■■"" ! ''"'' ' ; ' : '' '"