ITALY'S PART.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 October 1916, Page 5

ITALY'S PART.

! A GIGANTIC BATTLE, j ENEMY'S FRONT LINE SMASHED. _ London, October 13. The Daily Chronicle's Milan correspondent says that the net result of two days' gigantic battle on the Julian front (i.e., the Isonzo front, which is dominated by the Julian Alps) is the complete smashing through of the enemy's first line system on an e.ight kilometre front and to a depth of one or t«o kilometres. Not less than 24,000 adversaries have been placed hors-de-combat, and SOOO taken prisoner, including three battalions almost intact. The enemy has now mustered all available reserves and guns in the threatened sector, and is making incessant unsuccessful, dense, masked coun-ter-attacks,- which have entailed heavv los-es, ITALIAN PROGRESS CONTINUED. ENEMY SECOND LINE ATTACKED. Received Oct. 11, 5.5 p.m. London, Oct. 13. : An Italian communique states: We captured a stronghold between Settepnociroife and Pasubio, and drove oft with heavy losses counter-attacks southward of Novavilla, on the Carso. We captured ground, between the first and second enemy lines and reached Monte Pecinka. An Italian semi-ofliciSl statement says: As a result of the fighting on the 11th the Italian line was advanced from one to two kilometres, and an attack has been opened on the dominating positions of the second line, especailly on Hill 343, which, with Mount Pecinka, constitutes the northern pivot of the second line. The progress on the whole front is all the mere reirfarkable in view of the heavy bombardments and the massed counter-attacks for twenty-four hours between Dhino and East Gorizia. The Italians, after repulsing counter-attacks tor twenty-four hours bet-ween Dhino and ea~t Gorii.ia renewed the offensive, linsr these, renewed the offensive. The newspapers praii-e the valor of the latest Italian advance, which was made under terrific fire over a distance of 500 yawls. The King and Generals Cadorna and Porro watched the battle. The Italians wore steel masks and helmets. AUSTRIAN CALCULATIONS UPSET. THEIR STRONGEST POSITIONS CAPTURED. Received Oct. 15, 5.5 p.m. Rome. Oct. 14. Semi-Official: The Austrians considered that their first line positions on the Carso were the strongest that could be constructed, and they extended then; for only seven miles, cjnsidering this sufficient to nullify the numerical superiority of the Italians, also that their straightneas entailed an attack on - the whole extension-. When the Italian offensive captured the important points on this line, the Austrians feverishly began to prepare their second line, which was then only laid dut. The Italians are now attacking this. FURTHER ITALIAN GAINS. LARGE CAPTURES MADE Received Oct. 16, 12.30 a.m. Rome, Oct. 13. A communique states: We are extend mg cur occupation of the Sober Ridge, Gorizia, whrre the enemy abandoned many prisoners and large quantities of arms and ammunition. There is comparative quiet on the Carso.