ITALY.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 August 1917, Page 5

ITALY.

, ;! AN EXTENSIVE OFFENSIVE. A GREAT BATTLE RAGE*©. New York, Aug. 20. g The Italians are carrying out an of- q fensive on a 37-mile front ana have captured SOOO prisoners. t1 Rome, Aug. 20. j Many enemy positions on the Isonzo a have been j duecd to dust. Austrian j supports are being hurried up. I j London, Aug. 20. | a Austrian official: The great Isonzo j. "battle continues with undiminished force, j ITALIANS' SUCESSFUL ADVANCE. I GREAT ENEMY LOSSES. Aub. and NIZ. Cable Assoc, and Renter. ■, Received Aug. 21, 5.5 p.m. , London, Aug. 20. : \ A wireless Italian official report ' Btatas: Northwards of Anhovo we oversama tho enemy a resistance. We threw . numerous pontoons across the Isonzo and sroased to the left bank. We crossed the enemy's first line between Plava and the sea, despite desperate resistance. Two hundred and eight aeroplanes participated and bombed the enemy's reserves. Infantry and artillery action is Vigorously proceeding. The enemy's losses are moat serious. We have taken considerable booty, including guns and ■machine-guns. Already 7600 prisoners have been countered. A GREAT OFFENSIVE. ON FRONT OF 43 MILES. , OPENING THE WAY TO TRIESTE. BRITISH GUNS ASSISTING. Times Service. Received Aug. 21, 10 p.m. London, Aug. 20. The Italian offensive is on the widest front of any weßtern offensive. It is approximately forty-three uiles. Rome reports that numerous British guns are assisting in the bombardment. ' Although the Italian gunfire was never comparable with that on the Franco- ' British front, the stony ground gives the , firing double the effect. | Vienna reports that the Italians are ■ speciai^ - eoneemriiUng upon Hermada, I which dominates the coastal road eastwards to Trieste. It is estimated that , a million men are under fire and a million in reserve. The whole battle-ground U a series of ' rocky and desolate hills. ITALY'S MOST COLOSSAL BATTLE. AUSTRIAN RESISTANCE BROKEN, j I ; I

ENEMY PERPLEXED AND BLINDED. Received Aug. 22, 12,50 a.m. Rome, Aug. 21. II Corriere dTtalia says the chief importance of the auvance is that the Italians have definitely broken the Austrian resist hi ije on the right bank of the Isonzo, near Tolmino, enabling them to threaten the enemy's left wing. The offensive was simultaneous along the whole front, the Austriaus being perplexed regarding the final objectives., Correspondents are that the second battle is the most colossal | in Italy's war experience. Tho lighting ; develops, with tue greatest intensity. ! The enemy was expecting attacks on the Carso, and had concentrated nit bes. troops there, but had not reckoned with the Italian aeroplanes, the Ausiriaus being practically blinded. ALARMIST TONE OP AUSTRIAN PRESS. Received Aug. 22, 12.53 a.m. Berne, Aug. '3l. A wireless message states that the Austrian newspapers are writiuj alarmist articles on the Italian battle, but re- : commend tho .public to remain confident j in the High Command's wisdom.