ITALY. IN THE AIR.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 May 1916, Page 5

ITALY.

IN THE AIR.

THE ffAR IN TRENTINO, SANGUINARY FIGHTIKQ. ■V < AIR HAH) OS ,* CITY. " Received May 28, 5.5 p.m. ,1 Some, May 27. Autsrian aeroplanes bombed Bail, killing eighteen civilians, mostly women and children. A'communique says: The enemy is . ptfriftting bi impetuous attacks between Adige and Vallarsa, but were bloodily dented. A chief feature was the extermination of compact masaeß of infantry >rho were assaulting the Cosi-zngta-Buole pass. The Italians between Posino and Astico, owing lo intense-artillery fire, eva- - cuated an advanced position on the right wihg of the Astico line. The enemy made several attacks on Monte Civarion but were repulsed with serious lohm. 1 ITALIANS FALL BACK. OFFICIAL REPORTS. w ' deceived May 28, 11 .p.m. Amsterdam, May 2S. An Austrian communique states: We faptured armored works at Casaratta which barred our way southwest of Baefcrolt, and occupied Monte Moschicce, • north of Asjago. The guns captured since the beginning of the offensive number 281. v Rome, May 28. A communique says: We fell back in good order, from our advanced positions at Monte Civarion. The enemy attacked east of Calamento Valley, but the Alpini stopped the attack, inflicting very heavy losses.

AMERICAN FLYERS, ■ ONE DOWNS A FOKKER. t " 1 ' ' Beeeived Hay 27, 5.5 p.m. ■ , Paris, May 26; Lieut. Thaw, of the American flying squadron, fought and downed a Fokker. TheAmeriCan corps consists of thirty university men, who recently arrived in Stance. GOVERNMENT SLOTH* ~ BRITAIN'S UNPREPAEEDNESS. Received May 27, 6.5 p.m. ■; ; T London, May 26. At the Air Inquiry, -Lord Montagu of Bgaulieu detailed the difficulties he himself and others had experienced in endeavoring to speed up aviation progress. It seemed that the Government was asleep, and his warning 'had fallen on deaf ears. There were changing and drifting polities until the war started, and Britain "Was not then possesed of ■ ; serviceable and rigid air ehips to act - as, eye* to the fleet. There were some . aeroplanes, but we were wholly unprejpared for. war, and our superiority in tlie early stages was entirely due to the pilots' skill and pluck. The Boyal aircraft' faciory ought to be devoted to research, instead of competing with private manufacturers. SMYRNA BOMBED. Received May 21, 5.5 p.iri. Amsterdam, May 26, A Turkish communique says: Two aeroplanes dropped sixteen bomb 3 on the civilian quarter of Smyrna on Wednesday, killing three people and injuring , three women and a child.