AUSTRO-GERMANY.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 August 1917, Page 5

AUSTRO-GERMANY.

FRANTICALLY FORTIFYING,

AUSTRIA FEARS ITALIAN OFFENSIVE.

Washington, August 9. Oflieial advices state tliat Austria is frantically fortifying, fearing an early Italian offensive. She refused Germany's request to transfer many Austrian divisions to Russia, and, instead, mobilised the older Austins for the Russian campaign. In Vienna it is believed that the Italian offensive will be a most serious danger to the Central Empire* this autumn. Austria is said to be increasing her submarines in the Adriatic and Mediterranean.

INTENSE ARTILLERY ACTIVITY.

IN FLANDERS AND NEIGHBORHOOD,

Received Aug. 10, 9 p.m. London, Aug. 10. Wireless German official: The artillery duel in Flanders is of the greatest intensity on the coast and also from Bkeehoote to Hollebeke.

We repulsed Russo-Roumanian mass attacks northward of Focsani. The prisoners now number 3300, and the booty consists oj 17 guns, 90 machine-guns and mine-throwers.

RETENTION OF ALSAOE-LORBAINuE.

Received Aug. 10, S pan. Amsterdam, Aug. 9. Herr Scheidemann, the Socialist leader, is touring the country on Imperialistic propaganda. He addressed six thousand at Mannheim, and declared that Germany intends to retain Alsace-Lorraine.

FIGHTING STRENGTH OF CENTRAL POWERS.

Received Aug. 10, 6.16 p.m. New York, Aug. 9. The New York World's correspondent learns from tho Russian Mission in Paris that Germany lias 88 divisions, or a total of 1,144,000 men, on the RussoRoumanian front, and 148 divisions, or 1,024,000 men, on the West front. Additional troops on the East front compriso 41 divisions of Austro-Hungarians. four Turkish and four Bulgarian divisions.