ITALY.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 September 1917, Page 5

ITALY.

ON THE BAINSIZ2A PLATEAU. CONSOLIDATING POSITIONS. Received Sept. 1, 5.5 p.m. London, Aug. 31. Ttalinn official: On the Rainsizza plateau and the Carso we arc lighting to [consolidate the possession of the heights .and rectify the line. We obtained advantages on tiie northern slopes of Monte San Gabrielle and in the Brcstovizza valley. A wireless Austrian official message states that the Italian thrust is more powerful than hitherto. It-claims that the Ausfrians re.pul-ted attacks on Bainsizza and Monte San Gabrielle, and also claims to have defeated attacks near Gorizia, Graziano, and San Marco. ITALIANS MARCHING ON LASBAOH. EVACUATING TRIESTE AND THE CARSO.' Received Sept. 1, 5.5 p.m. Rome, Aug. 31. The Aiistrians announce that tlie Italian cavalry are marching on Lasbaeh. It is believed the announcement k made with a view to justifying the necessity for evacuating Trieste and the Carso, and Ito enable the armies to concentrate upon the defence of La=bael. POSSIPILITY OF AUSTRIA'S COLLAPSE. GENERAL CADORNA'S VIEWS. FORCING AUSTRIA TO SUE FOR <PEACE. Received Sept. 2, 5.5 p.m. Paris, Sept. 1. Newspapers are discussing the possibility of putting Austria altogether out of the fight. They point one that General Cadorna, commander-in-chief of the Italian army, believes that a severo defeat would cause Austria to make a separate peaw. Ho has always maintained that the Italian front was the only front where.au oifensho had every chance of being decisive. ENEMY LOSSES 100.000. GREAT BREACH IN AUSTRIAN LINE. A PRECIPITATE ROUT. VAST BOOTY CAPTURED. Received Sept. 2, 5.37 p.m. Rome, Setp. 1. The enemy's losses are officially estimated to be at least one hundred thousand (luring tho present offensive. Already fourteen strongly fortified mountains have toeen stormed and captured. There is a breach in the Austrian Hue eleven miles in width. The rout of the centre of General Boroevich's army was so precipitate that the Austrian* had no time to spike the guns or to destroy the foodstuffs and munitions that were hidden in the depths of caverns, or to burn the elegantly furnished officers' quarters. The Italian booty includes 1000 yoke of oxen, 17 trench mortars of a new type and of bigger calibre than any that have been seen before. STRIKE AT VIENNA. WHAT MAY HAPPEN. Received Sept. 1, 5.5 p.m. Paris, Aug. 31. A French expert writes that if the Italians, after the occupation of Monte Santo and Hcrmada, follow the road to Trieste, or the road taken by Napoleon vk Trace to Vienna, they will strike at Austria vitally. The invasion will quickly result in the renewal of Austrian overtures for a separate peace, not only with Italy but with all tho Allies. A PRESS SUGGESTION. London, Atfg. 31. The Idea Nazionale suggests that the Italian is the principal and possibly tlie decisive front, and 'alls on England to put forth her greatest effort here. COUNTER-ATTACKS REPULSED FURTHER GAINS. •USEFUL AIR RAIDS. Received Sept. 2, 11.50 p.m. London, Sept. 2. An Italian official report states: We repulsed, with heavy losses, repeated violent counter-attacks on the northern slopes of Monte San Gabrielle and eastward of Gorizia. We carried elements of trenches in the Brestovizza valley. We prisonered yesterday 717, making 720 officers and 20,481 men since the beginning of the tattle. One of our flights 'dropped 3% tons of bombs on railway establishments at Grahovo. THE AUSTRIAN VERSION. Received Sept. 3, 1.30 a.m. London, Sept. 2. A wireless Austrian official report claims the repulse of a strong Italian attack northward of Kal, and that the Austrians stemmed all assaults on . Monte San Gabrielle and captured trenches eastward of Gorizia.