ITALY.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 November 1917, Page 5

ITALY.

FEARS FOR VENICE. FIGHTING AT TIIE PIAVA, HEAVY BOMBARDMENT EXPECTED. Received Nov. 14, 1.30 a.m. London, Nov. 13. Mr. Ward Price reports that tlie fighting; on the Piava is likely to be chiefly an artillery duel, the Germans hoping by superior weight of metal to keep the Italian guns down sufficiently to permit them to throw pontoons across the river, to as to give a passage to the infantry without heavy loss. The fighting draws nearer to Venice, from which all civilians are encouraged to leave by free trains. Tfie Government is doing everything in the hope of safeguarding the national, or rather the world's possessions from the blind and (destructive fury of the war. A single hour's bombardment of Venice would destroy the irreplaceable treasures of the [ages, therefore elaborate precautions are being taken to remove the slightest pretext for treating Venice as a fortress. Nobody wearing a uniform is permitted i to enter the city. FIERCE REARGUARD ACTIONS. [ AX ENCIRCLING MOVEMENT FOILED. i United Press. Received Nov. 13, 5.5 p.m. New York, Nov. 12. The United Press correspondent telegraphs from Rome that fierce rearguard actions arc in progress !n the Piave zone, south of Chiarano valley. The enemy attempted an encirclement of the Italian infantry, but our cavalry counterattacked. Heavy rain enhances the value of the- rivers for defensive purposes.

A BITTER STRUGGLE. FRUITLESS ENEMY ATTACK. VALIANT ITALIAN RESISTANCE. Received Nov. 13, 8.30 p.m. London, Nov. 12. Italian official: The enemy renewed their attack fruitlessly on th<\ Asiago plateau, in the sectors Gallio-Monte Tiougra and Mellattadi-Gallio. Wc counter-attacked " _, d took prisoners. We resisted valiantly along the remainder of the mountainous front. Brisk fighting is proceeding across the Piave.

RETIREMENT GLORIFIED. BY GREAT REARGUARD FIGHTS. Rome, Nov. 12. Mr. Gibbons says that the Tagliamento River served Italy badly. When the Italians were retreating the river was a rushing torrent, but when the enemy cavalry approached tho river had subsided and become a normal rivulet in a I track of sand. The Italian retirement j was glorified by a score of fine fights by the rearguards, bringing the pursuers to a standstill again and again. The sersaglieri, who were fighting and marching | continuously for a fortnight, put up a great resistance at Sacile, where house-to-houso fighting occurred. The fact that they were now fighting for their own beautiful country fired with a new jand terrible enthusiasm the troops to j Whose defection General Cadorna attributed the disaster on October 24. They were then in Austrian territory; now ithcv are fighting on Italian soil, yielding by inches. The correspondent regrets that he cannot indicate the location of the liije it is intended to defend, nor the consequnce of failure there, otherwise the world would realise exactly the states for which we are fighting. Italy is literally fighting for her life. Other- correspondents 'believe that the Italians cannot hold the Piave line. The capture of the important town of Belluno and the ra,pid progress of the enemy in the Sugana Valley tend to inspire anxiety. SITE OF NEXT BATTLE.

. ALL DEPENDS OK ALLIES. London, Nov. 12. Mr. Ward Price says that the Italian army is practically established upon its next river line, and the first Austrian shells arc already falling in the neighborhood of positions where next the great defensive battle will be fought. The supreme need now is that the Allied plans be carried out with the utmost energy and speed. Paris, Nov. 12. It is understood it has .been arranged that Anglo-French assistance to Italy shall be equally divided. FALL IN VALUE OF LIRE. Received Nov. 13, 9.5 p.m. London, Nov. 12. The value of the Italian lire continues to depreciate. To-day's exchange in London is at the rate of forty to £l, compared with the nominal value of twenty-flve and a quarter. ■ A GERMAN CLAIM. Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Renter. Received Nov. 14, 12.10 a.m. London, Nov. 13. German official: We took 4000 prisoners westward of Bellune, in the Cordevale valley.