ITALY'S PART.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 July 1916, Page 5

ITALY'S PART.

AUSTRIANS DRIVEN BACK. STRONG POSITIONS CARRIED. WHOLESALE VANDALISM, Rome, June 20. A ccmimvnique =nys; The Austrbnis nude a violouc siiiw'.-k on /.agnsi wiih the view of delaying the advance, bill were repulsed with heavy loss. At Posina our advance was delayed owing to th,' heavy ground and the fire on enemy b.V.to'i'ies. Ultimately we disindued the /.ustrians fr"m tl)p rocks and reached Griso. We carried strong positions mi Mount Majo and we penetrated to C'riso trenches. London, June 29. The Daily Telegraph's correspondent with the Italians describes the Austrian efforts at wholesale vandalism. An earthquake or cyclone would not have affected worse devastation. The Italians found an immense quantity of furniture piled in Asiago in readiness for a bonlire, but die Austrians were hard pressed and hud not lighted it. They found hull: dreds of Austrian wounded dying of thirst in cave's in the hillsides.

A colonel left his parade uniform covered with decorations in readiness for the triumphant entry into Vicenza, and v. as reverently buried. A noble Aus--I'iaii officer was found with a revolver shot in his head. He preferred suicide to tiie disgrace of defeat. The. hurry of the retreat permitted only a few buriale. The line of retreat was marked by crosses and graves. The Italians found wonderful collections of plunder from Asiago, Camporowee and Roann. The victorious Italians in a few days reconquered more than half the territory the Austrians had invaded. VERY HEAVY FIGHTING. ITALIAN ATTACKS REPULSED. Received June 30, S p.m. Vienna, June 30. An Austrian communique states: After actively bombarding the whole Doberdo plateau, with numerous heavy batteries, we attacked. Very heavy fighting developed, especially near Sttmartino. The battles continue. All the enemy attacks so far have been repulsed. "The Italians also attacked the Gorizia bridgehead. NO EASY TASK. BEFORE THE ITALIANS., AUSTRIANS NOT ROUTED, Received June 30, 10.50 p.nu' London, June 30. Colonel Repington, after visiting the Italian front, says the counter-offensive was well launched, and the enemy is retreating. All the Trentino front is In Italian hands. The detachment which is already across the Posina is threatening the enemy in several directions. "1 don't regard the Austrians as routed. The army lost a few of the positions they had taken, but they have a series of strong positions on which to fal) back. They are concentrating on their front as they retire, and they are entitled to respect, having formidable artillery and a great number of machine guns which are sure to give a great deal of trouble. They will probably, eventually, fall back on the position to the eastward whence the offensive started. The Italian army is strong in numbers, fine in health, and in excellent spirits, while the country is enthusiastic at seeing the detested Austrians nearly driven out of Italy.

HEAVY AND DIFFICULT WORK. ITALIANS' STEADY PROGRESS. Received June 30, 10 p.m. Rome, June 30. A communique states: —The prog-ess on Wednesday between Adige and Brenta was continued, despite the growing resistance ironi the barrier positions, prepared beforehand. The Alpini ir Vallarsa captured, after a desperate light, Mattasone, while the infantry stormed the ridge at Mont Wrappola. The enemy in the evening made a violent attack from the Zugne zone, but were repulsed with the heavi est of losses.

The difficulties of the terrain on the Posina front and the enemy's heavy artillery hampered our offensive; nevertheless, we carried a strong position on the Cimabetta slopes and Montcmaio, and 'occupied Pedescala, in the Astieo valley.

Tlie enemy was strong and reorganised at the northern end of the Assa valley, and the heights on the left side of the Galmara valley to Colagnella. The ragged and woody nature of the terrain was favorable to the use of machine gun.;, while from the positions further to the rear, the enemy's heavy guns s\veep the approaches. We on Wednesday completed the occupation of the southern edge of the Assa valley and captured strong entrenchments around Dummits, Zebio and Zingarella. Our infantry in the Carso, by brilliant attacks, captured several trenches.