ITALY.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 November 1917, Page 5

ITALY.

A CRITICAL STAGE. . ENEMY USING SHOCK TACTICS. AUSTRIAN BRIGADE ANNIHILATED. ALLIES BELIEVED TAKING PART. Times Service. Received Nov. 21, 8.4,) p.m. London, Nov. 20. Mr. Jeffries describes Qnero, which the Auatro-Germans claim they stormed, as an all important hinge between the armies facing the north and east of the Piave. The battle is reaching its most critical stage. The enemy has brought up sufficient reinforcements to enable hinj to use his Verdun shock tactics, dense masses advancing like human batteringrams. There were nine attacks in twenty-four hours eastward of the Asiago. Most desperate efforts were made by Krobatkin's army round Quero and Toaiba, which were "the scenes of surging battles and counter-attacks. It is believed the Allied troops were engaged. A Rome correspondent says that retreat may be unavoidable, but the numerous successes have inspired the Italians with the breath of victory. The Austrian brigade which crossed the Piave was annihilated. This was largely due to the Bersaglieri, who fought all'night in ' the perishing cold with rifles and machine-guns. They received supplies of bombs at daylight, whereupon the surviving Austrians surtendercd. ENEMY DESIGNS ON GRAPPA. ITALIANS' PTTtONG DEFENCE. PRELIMINARIES OF GREAT BATTLE. ITALIAN SUCCESS AT ASIAGO. MORE ENEMY LEAFLETS. Received Nov. 21, 8.15 p.m. Rome, Nov. 20. Generals Krobatkin's and Buelow's armies are seeking to occupy Grappa, where the Italians are racing north to join the Piave armies. Its capture would enable the Austro-Germans to invade the plain of Lombardy. The Italian fourth army, which is defending Grappa, and the first army, which is defending Vastagna, are holding Prince Conrad in check, while the third army, between Montello and the sea, is standing firm before General Borthvitch, whose vanguards are composed of the armies under Generals Jurma and Sakas. When General von Mackensen has his heavy artillery between Valdobbi&dene and Hie sea the great battle will be fought for the Piave. Austro-German reinforcements continue to arrive. The Italian morale and lighting spirit are at their highest. A series of successful counter-attacks characterised yesterday's fighting, the brunt of-which took place in the approaches to the valleys in the eastern and south-eastern districts of the Asiago tableland. Despite stubborn resistance, the Italians progressed methodically, and consolidated the recaptured ground. They forced back the enemy for a considerable distance to the Head of between Brenta and the Piave, especially at Monte Grappa, but this is only a preliminary engagement of a great enemy offensive. Enemy aeroplanes arc dropping leaflets , among the Italian troops, disavowing all idea of conquest of Italian territory, and explaining that the invasion is purely a military measure. ENEMY MASSES INCREASING. A NEW PHASE COMMENCING. ITALIANS PREPARING FOR STRUGGLE. London, Nov. 20. A wireless Italian semi-official message says:—By the attack on Monte Ferena and Monte Tomba the enemy has made contact with even' point of the line on which the Italians have made a stand. The enemy masses are increasingly dense at several places, and movements of artillery and columns are reported in various directions. Bitter fighting occurred in the zone the Mule, taking 400 prisoners. A new phase is about to commence. Possibly the enemy intends to tempt fortune by a grand strategic undertaking. He" may try rapidly to break up the wings with the view of surrounding the Italians, or slow methodical wearing-down action, or a series of hammer blows similar to those at Verdun. In any case his recent serious losses must have convinced the enemy of the impossibility of dissolving the Italian army. The Italian army is preparing to face the great and imminent struggle to which the enemy is bringing enormous forces and material. DESPERATE AUSTRIAN ATTACKS. DRIVEN BACK BY ITALIANS. Rome, Nov. 20. T!ie Austrians are making desperate nttacks in many places. On the night of the 7th the Liguria Brigade defeated heavy infantry attacks. A Bersagliere brigade and other troops in the Zensen loop, in the Fagaro zone, also brova back the Austrians, capturing 1230 officers and men and 27 macßjne-guns. The Austrians had crossed the river with the aid of a wire rope, dragging themselves through the currents. The Italians were driven hack at, first, after desperate bayonet fighting, but wore reinforced and not only drove the Austrians from the western bank of the Piavp but from the large Island in midstream, which they had held for some day*.