ITALY.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 May 1916, Page 5

ITALY.

THE AUSTRIAN OFFENSIVE. BAmE FRONT OF 45 MILES. JtrBIOUS FIGHTING IN ENEMY V TERRITORY. Received 21, 5 5 p.m. , London, May 20. The D«!y Telegraph's Rome cornspondent s*yg the Austrian .offensive extend* from Monte Peria, west of Lake Gard, to Cimadodici, tast of, the lake, «n a front of 45 miles. The Austrians are supported-by thousands of guns and forty permanent forts; The principal points of attack are the Ledro Valley, Zuxunatorta, below Roverto, and the Su?ana Valley, and the battle was mostly in Austrian territory..,' Che' enemy advanced in masses and the battle began on Monday and raged with fury until Wednesday, when it lessoned. The Austrian dead were fact high. ,

AUSTRIAN ATTACKS REPULSED. THREE BAYS FURIOUS BATTLE. Received May 21, 5.5 p.m. /, . Rome, May 20. Official: After three days of most furious bombardment we evacuated Zuzunatorii*, which is in ruins We evacuated similarly the line from Montenaggio to Sagliodasplo, which is in the Upper Astieo In the Sugana Valley the was everywhere repulsed, HEAVY AUSTRIAN LOSSES. ITALIANS* NOT DISPLACED PROCESS" Received May 21, 5.5 p.m. 1 Rome, May 20. The Giornale dltalia says that for five days the Austrian offensive cost heavy losses. The enemy gained certain advanced positions after great artillery preparation, but nowhere have they displaced the principal defensive positions. A; continuance of the attacks will be an emanating and bleeding process, satisfactory to ourselves. AUSTRIAN OFFICIAL REPORT. SUCCESSFUL OPERATIONS CLAIMED. • Received May 21, 5.5 p,m. ' ■ t Amsterdam, May 20. An Austrian communique says: Our attacks south of the Tyrolean frontier continually gain ground. Our forces *rc advancing between Astach and the Lain Valley. We drove the enemy back on the entire front, capturing two armored redoubts. Since the attack began wo took prisoner 10,000 men, 60 • guns, and 51 machine-guns. AUSTRIANS TRANSFER TROOPS. Received May 21, 5.5 p.m. London, May 20. Advices from Switzerland state that the Austrians have denuded the Macedonian portions of the Russian front for the Italian offensive. LATEST OFFICIAL REPO*RT. CONFLICTING STATEMENTS. Received May 22. 12.15 a.m. Rome, May 21. A communique soys: "We repulsed an attack between the Adige Valley and the Tcwaguota Villev, and withstood an offensive movement up the latter; also on the Asiago plateau. An air raid caused slight casualties at Cividale Morano. Received May 22, 12.15 a.m. Amsterdam, May 21. An Austrian communique says: We entered Poncegno and captured Sas•WtHft, an* #e expelled the enemy from GMfMnto. Since the outset of our offeij- •!»#- we have made prisoner 257 officers •ltd 12.900 raea, and we have captured JO7 guns, ■' '