ITALY.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 May 1916, Page 5

ITALY.

AUSTRIANS DRIVEN TO I, FIGHT. ITALIAN ADVANCE IN THE TREXTINO. London. Mav 23. A correspondent of the Dailv Telegraph saya that throughout Tuesday the Austrians fought without elan, their own artillery driving them forward. Austrian grenades were plainly seen in one sector exploding amongst the Austrian rear files, who seemed disinclined to advance. The unfavorable results of the German offensive at Verdun are reacting on the Austrians' spirits; ' moreover, the Italian artillery has seriously damaged the Ca,miole-Trentino railway. The Italians continuo to advance in the western Trentino, whither the enemy has dispatched reinforcements, fearing the Italians' progress may rloße the return route of nineteen Austrian divisions. THE AUSTRIAN OFFENSIVE. A VIOLENT ATTACK. AUSTRIAN INFANTRY CUT DOWN. Received May 24, 9.30 p.m. Rome,, May 24. It is pointed out that the Austrian offensive synchronises witli Italy's declaration of war. Three Slavs deserted on May 14 and approached the Italian trenches and stated that the attack would begin the following day. The Italians were uncertain where on the 350 miles of frontier the Mow would fall until a bombardment of incredible violence began. Scores of 12in. guns j were suddenly revealed at dawn mountI ed on Austrian crags overtopping most of the Italian positions. Two thousand cannon were assembled, of every calibre from mounted artillery to lGin. guns, which swept over the valleys, while swarms .of aeroplanes soared over the Italian lines correcting the range by wireless. When the Alpini recovered from the first shock they found a vast network of trenches, patiently constructed during months, obliterated. The infantry onslaught began in the evening, wOien the mitrailleuses cut down hundreds advancing in dense formation. The entanglements were heaped with dead. The battle raged incessantly for eight days. The Alpini defended every foot, fighting always in the snow. Already there are eight thousand Austrian dead. The Italians have thus far resisted the attempt of the enemy to smash through and pour down towards Verona. The Austrians are now occupying a smnll strip of Italian soil [between Mount Maggio and Tonezza. Italy is strengthening a third line of defence, but it is believed Mount Maggio and Tonezza will prove the extreme limit of Austrian penetration. AUSTRIAN CLAIMS. FURTHER PROGRESS AND MANY PRISONERS. Received May 24, 10.20 p.m. Amsterdam, May 24. An Austrian communique claims a total capture of 23,883 Italians;'including 482 officers and 172 guns. Further progress is claimed south of the Tyrol front, and they claim occupation of Cimamadriolio and a height westward of the frontier. MEANING OF THE MOVE TO KEEP ITALIANS FROM FRANCE. Received May 24, 11.10 p.m. New York, May 24. According to a Rome message, the Minister of War, after a protracted Council of War, issued a statement in regard to the military situation which is developing against the Austrian offensive, and which, it is declared, will leave the Italians in a supreme position. He said there was expectation of a general movement against the Austrians on other fronts, especially in the Balkans and Russia. Besides these contemporaneous attacks, others were expected to be sprung by Italy's allies in France. Military critics advise reconstructing the Italian front and abandoning the far advanced position, in order to be (better able to repulse the Austrians' forward movement. Several indications confirm the statement that the design of the present strenuous campaign of the Austrians is to prevent Italy from participating on the French front, also to paralyse the action aiming at joining the Salonika and Avlona forces in a simultaneous effort. Another 1 message state that the Austrians transferred to the Italian front a number of 380 and 420 millimetre guns taken from warships bottled in the harbor at !Pola. t|iw: 14 ■<-** AUSTRIANS FROM ALBANIA. THIS FRONT ABANDONED Received May 24, 11.10 p.m. Paris, May 24. The Athens correspondent of Lo Matin says that according to a neutral diplomat just arrived from Albania, the Austrians have withdrawn 50,000 troops • from Albania in the last three .weeks, leaving small deta«hments to guard the • towns they occupy. The abandonment of the Albanian iro'nt is ascribed to tflie impossibility of bringing up food supplies.