ITALY'S PART.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 September 1916, Page 5

ITALY'S PART.

THE ISONZO OFFENSIVE. AUSTRIAXS SUSTAIN HUGE LOSSES FIERCE ARTILLERY WORK. ' Received Sept. 20, 5.45 p.m. Rome, Sept. 10. , _ Ihe Italiar offensive on the Isonzo is .proceeding steadily, Dunn* the tat phase of the fight, from the 13th lo the 10th, the Austrians lost twothirds of their front line. The bloodiest encounters occurred on the: second and third days, when the enemy's reserves arrived. The Fifth Austrian Army Corps, which was countering the Italian r.'ght flank, sustained enormous losses. General Cadorna postponed the offensive for eight days owing to heavy rains. The bombardment was so tremendous that the Austrian trencher were reduced to mounds of pulverised ruins, mangled arms and legs. The attackers frequently found the Austrian trenches full of big unexploded shells. Austrian 15-ineli guns are now frantically endeavouring to destroy Gorizia .and Montfaleone. The Italian heavy batteries are demolishing the vast caverns in the heights behind Gorizia and Trieste, where the Austrian 15-in. guns are sheltering.

PAPAL. CONCERN OVER AIR RAID. Received Sept. 20, 5.45 p.m. Home. Sept. 19. me Pope has vritten to the Patriarch of Venice deploring the Austrian air raids. COUNTER-ATTACKS REPULSED. Rome, September 19. A communique states: We derated persistent counter-attacks on the Carso. Cur air squadron effectively bombed the Oottegliano and Scoppo stations and stores. ENEMY ATTACKS DEFEATED. Rome, Sept. 19. A communique states: We defeated persistent counter-attacks on the Carso. Our air squadrons effectively bombed the Dottegliano and Scoppo stations and stores.