ITALY.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 November 1917, Page 5

ITALY.

ENEMY PRESSURE DIMINJSHING. JIIXDENBURG AGAIN AT FAULT. Rome, Nov. 23. The enemy procure is diminishing everywhere except, at Monte Grappa, where the Germans arc launching assault after assault and suffering the heaviest losses. News of the British victories in France and Palestine has been communicated to the enemy by leaflets dropped from aeroplanes. A Berne mesngc states that Genera! von Hindcnburg planned the rapid total collapse of Italy, intending then to attack France from the south ITALIANS' HOLD POSITIONS. ENEMY DEFINITELY STOPPED. London, Nov. 23. An Italian official message states: We repulsed, with severe losses, a strong atatt.emptcd enciroling attack against Milote, on the Asiago Plateau, preceded bv a big bombardment of tear sliells. We firmly beld all positions. The enemy renewed his attacks yesterday between the Brcnta and the Piave. There was a fierce struggle all day long and several positions were lost and regained. Our last counter-attack definitely stopped the enemy. - CRUCIAL OATTLE DEVELOPING. ENEMY CONCENTRATING ON TUNUOMBA. CAPTURE OF VENICE AIMED AT. NAVAL GUNS ON RAFTS. Received Nov. 25, 5.5 p.m. London, Nov. 24, Mr. Percival Gibbon, writing from Italy, states that the enemy is concentrating upon an effort to capture Tumiomba and advance across the Piave between Feiier and' Wider villages, and then blast a road to Hurst, on the Venice plain. The enomy's artillery consists fo large numbers of six-inch guns mounted on motor lorries. The pressure in this sector never relaxes. A crucial battle is developing in the triangle between Cornelia, Tomba and the Piave river. The lighting on the Lower Piave is crystallised into the defence line of Sile, with the Venetian lagoon beyond. The country here below the sea is flooded, and naval guns on rafts occupy the lagoons. One hit an Austrian bridge at Grisloera, at 10,000 yards range, and when the bridge was rebuilt a monitor smashed it with a 12inch gun. GREAT ENEMY PRESSURE. A VIOLENT STRUGGLE. VEHEMENT COUNTEP.-ATTACJyS. SEVERE ENEMY LOSSES. Aus. and<N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Renter. Received Nov. 25, 5.5 p.m. London, Nov. 24. An Italian semi-official report, describing enemy attempts to break through between Brenta and the Piave on November 21, says that most of the enemy masses on Thursday exerted pressure at Tomba and Mofenera, six AustroGcrman regiments attempting to encircle the right wing and dislodge the Italians from the right bank of the Piave. The struggle, which was most violent until night, continues with varying fortune, there being attacks and counter-attacks. The enemy's losses were severe. Our prisoners state that the enemy was surprised at the vehemence of our counter-attacks. ENEMY ATTACKS FAIL. ARTILLERY PREVENTS CROSSING RIVER. Received Nov. 2, r >, 5.5 p.m. London, Nov. 24. Italian official: Powerful enemy thrusts between the Asiago plateau and Brenta failed. Our artillery stopped enemy attempts to cross the Piave in boats. We repulsed an attack southward of Leftima, in Albania.