ITALY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 315, 15 June 1915, Page 5

ITALY

BOMBS ON POLA. ARSENAL NEARLY DESTROYED. MANY WARSHIPS DAMAGED. FLOATING DOCKS STRUCK. Received June 14, 5 p.m. Rome, June 13. The Messagero states that a dirigible grazed Pola and almost completely destroyed the arsenal. There were nearby six warships, injluding one battleship and two cruisers, md several submarines, and a number were damaged. Bomb s also struck several floating locks. ° (Pola is on the Adriatic coast, and is Austria's naval base.) GREAT ITALIAN ATTACK. AUSTRIAN PLANS UPSET. Received June H. S n.m. London, June 14. Reports from Undine .state that an ittack on Gorizia lias practically begun. The Italians are bombarding the fortitiations at Santa Maria, San I'ietro, San Harco, Santa Lucia, besides the Ausrian position in the mountains dominitng the town, especially Mount Sangahielle, north-west of Gori/.ia. The railray communication north and south has ieen cut. The Austrians' main plan is to prevent he Italians crossing the Isonzo between 'olmino and Gradesco, believing these •oints, acting in conjunction, form an insurmountable barrier. The capture f Plava and Descla l>y the Italians has ipset the plan. VALOR REWARDED. ITALIAN OFFICER'S FINE WORK. Received June 14, 0 p.m. Rome, -Tune 13. The King has decorated Colonel Rossi rith a medal for valor. Colonel Rossi ?d a column across the Isonzo against strong position. At a critical moment pontoon bridge was swept away, and he Austrians immediately hurled a trong force against the Italians, and ttempted to sweep them into the rivef. 'olonel Rossi charged in the face of a errible fire, and the Bersaglcrei broke hrough the enemy holding the bridge-' ead, and stormed the artillery comlanding the river. Colonel Rossi fell ■ounded, and exhorted his men to coninue until the position was won. iENERAL ITALIAN SUCCESS. 7000 AUSTRIANS TRAPPED. IMPORTANT TOWN CAPTURED. Rome, June 13. The Italians occupied Gradisca (22 ailes from Trieste) on Tuesday. The nnouncement was delayed "until both ides of the Isonzo were in the possesion of the Italians aud the permanent ccupancy of the town was assured. Seven thousand Austrians participat:d in the surprise attack on the Italian ■ear at Monte Nero. The force was livided into three columns and followed l narrow mountain track. Machinepins were strapped to mules. The Alpini detected the movement and the tailans were ordered to lie concealed. L"ie Austrians fell into tile trap. The ilpini and Bersaglieri sprang from the rocks, trees, trenches and ditches and itiacked furiously, while their machineguns battered the Austrian rear. The Austrians, after a desperate resistance, retired. Some mules and guns fell over the precipices. In the skirmishing on the TyrolTrentino frontiers the yiemy continues to retreat. In Carnia the Alpini captured the Yolais Pass and some jtrisoners. In the middle Isonzo wc succeeded in a. sudden attack on the left bank of the river near Plava. The enemy made a fierce counter-attack, but ultimately retired, leaving numerous dead and 200 prisoners. On the lower Isonzo our heavy artillery, destroyed a dyke near Sagrado 'by means of which the enemy had flooded the country and impeded our progress. _ The French, German and Russian Governments have notified their formal consent to the Pope's proposal that sick and wounded prisoners should be interned in Switzerland. A document signed by General Rohr found on a captured Austrian officer states that an inquiry had been openee on the grave dereliction of duty of ai Austrian detachment in failing lament ably in a sector where thev might easi ly have "held the Italians, who clamber cr over Tocks in vain aud mist and bioK< the Austrian front because two corn panics of reserves were asleep. DISGUISE OF AN AUSTRIAN. Received June 15. 1.10 a.m. Home. June 14. A prie=t at Caporetto signalling t( the Austrians from a church, givin; proved to he an Austrian colour in disguise. He was shot.