ITALY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 318, 18 June 1915, Page 5

ITALY

SUCCESS OF THE ITALIANS. AUSTRIAN'S FALL IX lIKAPS. THUKE ATTACKS J.'Air,. Received June 17, 7.'20 p.m. London, .1 imc 17. Mr. Donohoe (tin: war correspondent) • reports from Rome that the Aiiitrians attacked the kalian positions in the Sesis pass at dawn and advanced in massed formation, and few lived vo Teach the Italian trendies. The Austrian artillery" was .unable to co-operate OWillff to t\e unfavorable nature of the ground, fearing to decimate tli.'ir own ranks. Tlioir infantry reserved tlioiv fire, trusting to tin; bayonet, hut t'he Italians fire swept the open ground and the Austrian* fell in heaps. Tli.» first 'and .second attacks withered away and | the third also failed. I ACTIONS FAVOR ITALIANS. I

A CIIAHCK KXI'KLS AWTUUKB. I'oceivcil ■luiK' IS, a m. Koine, Juno 17. Official: There were combats favorable to ns tlie whole frontier, notably at ('arilia and lsonzo. 'Die Alpini at Montenero charged and expelled the Ant.srians from ]>r.sitinii.s northward of the principal summit, and took Hls prisoners, including fourteen otlicers. AUSTRIAN OFFENSIVE IMPRACTICABLE. ITALIANS llol.l) TIIK IUSSES. FHiirnxci ix Tin; alps. London, June Hi. Milan states that an Austrian off-n----aive had long been predicted ill tile event of an Austro-ltalian war, but now it is impracticable. Despitu the Austiians* favorable geographical position they (the Austrians) are upon the defensive, and are collecting all tlie availaide troops for the protection of their ports and entrenched camps. The Italians' first task was to capture the dominating positions, and tlie opening phase in the Italian advance developed most fortunately. They now hold the most important Alpine passes ill the Trentino, (.'adore and Friuli districts, and arc breaking 111.! Austrian resistance at some points. Koine, June Hi. Official: Tlie euenr.- made repeated attempts lo break through the Sc-is Pass in the larnic Alps, but were repulsed and puisued with the bayonet. Investigations confirm tlie belief that the enemy is using explosive bullets. The Austrian plan is now clearer. They are prepared for a desperate defence of (lorizio ami Tulmino, lielkving tliat it will be impossible for tlie Italians continue tlie march to Trieste while their le \ flank is threatened. The Austrians are everywhere on the defensive, except in the C'arnia. zone, where the best troops arc centred for a violent offensive, aiming at an invasion of the valleys leading to 'Venice, tlius to force tlie Kalians lo retreat in order to defend their own territory. The Austrians arc defending (lori/va from the height of I'odgora west of the town, where a four-miles front is covered with invisible Irenclii-s protected by steel [dates connected by several chains of underground tunnels, whence the troops fight under complete cover, supported by heavy art'licrv hidden in grottos excavated in the hills, l'icrco fighting is proreeding from tic Tnferno Valley to Malhorgbetto, wliieli is Tbtlll feet iiigli. So far the Austrian attacks have been repulsed. A battle, aft "V rag'ng for several (lavs at tlie foot, of tile Fast Trentino glaciers, ended in an Austrian rout. Though fierce and pict(ire s'|iie Ihe-o Alpine engagements do not possess great military importance. 01TKTA1. COX I'll! MAT!')X. I\Y: Hington. .lime IV. The High Commi— lone!- i'eiiorls. under da!'' Lou.ho:. .time 1 '.. iX> ii.nu: The Italians a;:r.i imi !1. procee ling with the oeeiipati.iii of .luminal ins points ~n the T. rol-Tr 'nl 'iio frontier and ('adore. I'xe.pi artillery firing and two fruitless attacks ~n Simdav agamst T'ie do Valon", in thi' I pp :, r Fiave \ alley. the enemy ('eve given 110 si"n of aelivitv there. In ('anna tlie :-ni'in>' s activity is more inten-e. lie has made repeated •ittempis to break I'ir.wjlt near Hie Si- p ;; - which is st ill MrollHv held b'.- 'b" lleli'ins. chiefly on the' ridee of AT,,nut Ho-laei.' and ; the Motile t'roee I'a ■■. Here tile enemy , made a vejnn,u< eHa.k <ai . morning, pivpe'el bv evove ,irlilVr> I firing. The eie'in. was ivvuV •-) at the I point of the H\w.-t. Stun, oi the wounded show proo! iliat the eiienn j ate explosive pl'uieclilc-.