ITALY'S PART.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 November 1916, Page 5

ITALY'S PART.

NEW OFFENSIVE IN CARSO. A VIVID DESCRIPTION. Rome, Nov. ;). The Italian bombardment of the Carso on Tuesday was intense, but the cannonade on the following mornins,' was still move violent. It came to a olimaa at 11 o'clock, when the artillery suddenly lifted and the infantry began tlie attack, the whole line gaining 500 yards in tho Pecinka sector at the first rush. Pccinka and the neighboring hills had previously proven stubborn obstacles, but the attack this time could not be gainsaid. Mist veiled the attackers, but the gradual retreat of the Austrians' shrapnel puffs indicated progress. Soon the Italians passed the summit of Pecinka, Velikihribach and Lokvica. After midday the enemy pounded the roads leading towards the crest, beyond which the fight still raged. The battle nearer the sea was much more intense. At one o'clock the mist, which had previously shrouded the battlefield, lifted and large groups of Italians were visible crossing the captured crests and in the wake of the attacking line two long columns of prisoners, were descending the slopes to Vallona. The Austrians .began a heavy bombardment of the captured crests and the Italian counter batteries intensified the fire. The victorious Italians solidly occupied the new positions while the foremost linos were steadily pressed forward! Rome, -Nov. 4. *> A day of the new offensive in the Carso cost the enemy a loss of 15,000, one-third of them prisoners. The 21st Regiment and other units were annihilated. There is fine weather and the battle continues fiercely. The enemy counterattacks are feeble and disordered, and the ti oops are demoralised. ON THE CARSO : * ADVANCE VIGOROUSLY PRESSED. THREE AND A HALE! Mti.ES GAINED. AUSTRIAN THIRD LINE REACHED, j HIGH OFFICERS CAPTURED Reeeived. Nor. 5, 5.55 p.in London, Nov. '4. An Kalian semi-official massage re-' ports:—The advance in the Northern Carso was vigorously pressed, i-articu-larly on.November 2. A ridge commanding the Castaghirizza Road, the principal artery of communications lor the Italians from Vallonne, was scaled, also the rocky terraces to the eastward*. We drove the enemy beyond the hi.'is to the southwards. We advanced to a depth of three and a half miles, reac'h'.K; the third Austrian line, and capturing valuable observation posts. Two foys' lighting resulted in the considerable extension and consolidation of the Kalian positions. The occupation of Carso, and the fact that a brigadier and othc-r high' officer* were among the prisoners taken on Novembei 2, show the deptU jeaeirated by the Italians. MOST TERRIFIC FIGHTING. WONDERFUL ARTILLERY WORK FOLLOWED BY LIGHTNING DASH OF INFANTRY. ITALIANS ATTACKING LAST TRENCH, .■ ' Received Nov. 5, 5.5 p.m. Rome, Nov. 4: The capture of 10,000 prisoners in two dayo proves the great success of the Italians' effort to draw off the pressure on Roumanian The Austrians attacked, a hundred battalions of the Austrian Lar.dwchr troops. Several battalions, were completely destroyed. The Austrian defences consisted tf three line?, suid a fourth in process of construction. The ita'aa artillery swept away the first Vir.n in > few 'hours. The second was ce-nsideretl impregnable, but was quickl; til: on by assault. The thud i: new brus* ;•; tacked. If promptly captured, t\w :' trlans will be forced .o genera! treat. They are alror.c;: v....i;...';:!:?" their big gur.s. Following formidable artillery preparations, the Italian infantry are eroding on the Dvino, an important railroad junction, which is already subjected to terrific bombardment. This prevents it being used for forwarding reinforcements to the various sectors. The Italian gunnery is strikingly effective. One single shell in one small valley annihilated an Austrian company by blowing up the ammunition store. There was most terrific fighting on Veliki Hill, which wa* crowded with the heaviest Austrian artillery. The lightning rapidity of the Italian advance astonished the Austrians, who (led without even removing tlieir breechblocks,. The Italians immediately faiced their gun 3 on the fleeing Austrian:, with great effect. The Italians charged at Vcrtobizza waist-high in the water, using their, bayonets as daggers, and clubbing the Austrian? with their rifle-butti. An Italian airship bombed the es'iny works and warships at Sebeinico, and caused great fires. AUSTRIAN MESSAGES TO ITALIAN? Received Nov. 4, 5.5 p.ai. London, Xnv. 3. Prior to the recent battle Austrian soldiers floated messages down the streams to the Italian lines, asking the EoH'iers to let them know when the Italians v;crc beginning to attack, .:a they .maided to retire.