ITALY'S PART.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 August 1916, Page 5

ITALY'S PART.

EWEMY LINE PENETRATED.! I ON AX EXTENDED I'RON". 1 ■l£. ..ed August fl, 5.5 p.m. Rome, August S. Our offensive on the Isonzo resulted in in the enemy line being penetrated 011 a front of nineteen miles. ; Our destroyers shelled the coast. CADORNA'S ISONZO OFFENSIVE. AUSTRIAN'S COMPLETELY SURPRISED SHELLS FROM MOUNTAIN 7 HEIGHTS. SPIRITED INFANTRY ATTACK ENEMY PURSUED. Times Service. Received August 9, 10.40 p.m. > London, August fl. The Times' correspondent at the Italian headquarters states that General Carlorna's Isonzo offensive displays a wonderful breadth of conception. The Austrian? were completely surprised, the Italians gaining many positions that had previously caused a year's work. The struggle commenced with a fearful bombardment from Monte Santo to Monfalcone. New batteries placed on the mountain heights were raining shells" from Sabotino, which is over two thousand feet high and dominates Gorizia. The infantry emerged from secretly constructed tunnels ad galleries in the mountain side. They assaulted with incredible rapidity, carrying the first three lines of trenches in twenty minutes, and a. redoubt on the summit within an hour. The pursuit is continuing down the slopes stiaight to the Isonzo. The troops on four peaks at San Michel surrendered unconditionally when under fire from Sabotino. GREAT ITALIAN REJOICINGS. FALL OF GORIZIA EXPECTED. Received August 9, 11.20 p.m. Rome, August fl. There are great rejoicings at the success of the Italian offensive and its beginning. It is whispered, that since Friday the results have been eagerly and anxiously awaited. Italy is hoping soon to place to her credit successes comparable with those at the Somme, Verdun, 'Jalicia and Egypt. The successes exceed anticipations, and towns are beflagged and there are processions in the streets, the people believing that the fall of Gorizia, so often declared imminent, is at hist about to become an accomplished fact. WELL-LAID PLANS. SYSTEM OF "CAVERNS AND TUNNELS. Received August 10, 1.20 a.m. Rome, August 9. The Italians have been busy for months honeycombing the southern side of the mountain and cutting immense caverns out of the solid rock, each holding a company of infantry. Recently they constructed a secret tunnel, 850 feet long, reaching to within 90 feet of the Austrian trenches. Eight hundred Bersaglieri assembled in the tunnel ready to lead the attack, with strong supports of the first line of troops. GORIZIA SHELLbD, GREAT ITALIAN OFFENSIVE. London, August 8. Official.—The Italians have captured Mt. Sabotino and the San Michele bridgehead to Gorizia and are shelling the town. They captured 8000 prisoners on the 6th and 7th, and also 11 guns and 100 machine-guns. Rome, August 8. The Italians have begun a great offensive on the Isonzo and Carso, on a sixty-mile front, for which they have been preparing for several weeks. The action began on Friday morning after a violent bombardment which destroyed the enemy trenches and fortifications. The infantry then charged and captured the first and second system of defence. The enemy at first made a strong resistance and then fled. The fighting was most violent in the Gorizia-Monfalcone sector. A number of Bulgarian and Croatian units surrendered. Four thousand prisoners were captured up to Sunday and they are contusing to come in by thou- j sands. ECONOMIC QUESTIONS. 'DISCUSSED WITH A BRITISH MINISTER. Reuter Message. Received August !), 11.20 p.m. Rome, August fl. Mr. Runciman (President of the British Board of Trade), has arrived for the purpose of discussing Anglo-Italian economic questions. MASTERLY MISREPRESENTATIONS. Received August 0, 8.5 p.m. London, August 0. An Austrian communique says: We progressed on the heights eastward of Worotcha. The enemy penetrated our firsi; line eastward of Tliumacz, but were expelled. Our defence near Tliumacz has been transferred from that position to another westward, owing to superior enemy forces. 2932 Italians were taken prisoner at the Gorizia bridgehead, but owing to repeated desperate attacks the defenders -■« withdrawn to the east of Isonzo,-