ITALY.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 May 1917, Page 5

ITALY.

THE ITALIAN OFFENSIVE. ITALIANS ADVANCING ON SIXTYMILE FRONTAGE. Rome, May 16. The Italian action on the Julian front continues yiolently. Many fortified positions and trenches have been captured. London, May 1(1. There is great interest in the Italian offensive. From Udine 'he Italians arc: advancing on a front of sixty miles from Tolmino seaward. The sector TolminoSargano is the most difficult/front in the war.' The Tolmino bridgehead bars the entrance to the valley leading to Laibach.

ADVANCE EVERYWHERE. AGAINST GREAT ODDS. Received May 17, 5.50 p.m. Rome, May 10. ( A wireless Italian official message 6tates: Our vigorous offensive on the Julian front was resolutely continued. The infantry established themselves on the heights of the eastern bank of the Isonzo northward of Gorizia, which had been transformed into a formidable fortified position. One of the left wing columns forced a passage over the river and captured Bombres village. We captured in the centre the heights north-east of Plava, and stormed the villages of Zagora and Meagomila, and carried the crests of Mount Cucco and Mount Vodioe. Our right wing progressed considerably on the ste.cp slopes of Mt. Santo. Fierce counter-attacks were repulsed. We conquered eastward of Gorizia strongly fortified heights northward of Tivoli. Insistent counter-attacks were heaten. We took prisoner 3375, a mountain battery, and much war material. ENEMY LINES BROKEN. . Received May 10, 5.5 p.m. Rome, May 10. The battle on the Julian front has assumed an epic. Preparations were made to attack a front of ninety kilometres, the attack breaking the enemy's lines, despite the most stubborn resistance.