ITALY.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 June 1916, Page 5

ITALY.

a GREAT VICTORY.

AUBTRIANB DRIVEN BAOK. ALL POSITIONS RE-CAPTURED. Rome, June 26. A communique says: After intense artillery preparation the infantry advanced from the Val Larsa to the Sette Communi plateau, the enemy withdrawing rapidly in the Val Larsa. We took Raossi and the slopes southwest of Monte Menerle. The enemy blew up the bridges at Fixi and Firei, Ast, Tanna and Staineri. We drove the enemy to the' bead of the ravines on Mont ""ruche.

On the Posina-Astico line we began to advance down the Posina valley. The greatest progress was on the right flank, where we occupied Priafora. In addition to occupying various northern slopes of the Sette Communi plateau, we captured on the north-east Mounts Cimmone and Castellar della Contessa.

' Along the whole front we found the enemy's trendies full. of corpses and captured much in the way of arms, ammunition and; food. The enemy was incapable of overcoming our defences and was froced by our offensive to begin to retreat.

We recaptured Castel lomberto, Malette, Lorigara, Gallio, Asiago, Chuna and Montecengio. The city was gaily decked in honor of the victory, and a great evening demonstration is being arranged.

A BRILLIANT FEAT.

AUSTRIAN'S BROKEN IX A SINGLE DAY. EETREAT TO THEIR BORDERS ' TO SAVE ANNIHILATION. . Received June 27, 11 p.m. London, July Jl. The Daily Telegraph's, Milan correspondent states that the Italians captured in a, day positions which the Austrian tool; three months in conquering, comprising the .ntire Mandrielle roadway system, and reconquering the summit of Cengio, giving the Italians command of the Valley of Arsierm. Motor transport played an important part in the success of the movement. All roads were lined with lorries and cars of every description. Ttoegigantic labor of transferring half a million men proceeded for weeks. Hundreds of guns were dragged to seemingly inaccessible mountains over improvised roads. When the guns opened fire from concealed positions the Austrian advance was broken in a single day. A rout began under the tbail of shells. The >nly chance wa<. instant retreat, otherwise the Austrians betweeD Posina ind Aaiago would have been annihilated. Rome, June 27. Hundreds of iew big guns, for the last two days unmasked on the heights, ' opened a tremendous fire on both the Austrian wings. How the guns were dragged to such heights along the roads made in less than two weeks will be reckoned one of the most brilliant feats of alpine warfare. The result was that . the Austrians unexpectedly saw their centre menaced; The Italians continue to attack furieusly. THE AUSTRIANS STORY.

" SHORTENING THE FRONT.' Received June V, 10.40 p.m. Vienna, June 27. A communique states that in order to safeguard tihe full freedom of action we shortened the front between Brenta and AdSge. This was completely unnoticed by the enemy. We suffered no casualties.

A RAID QN DURAZZO. SUPPLY VESSELS SUNK. Rome, June 2G. A communique states: Some of our unita on Sunday entered tlie protected portion of Durazzo roadstead and sanlc two steamers of 5300 tons that were laden with ammunition, and returned eafely.