ITALY.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 December 1917, Page 5

ITALY.

ITALIANS' HEROIC RESISTANCE. ! ■ • • i TO THE POINT OF EXTINCTION'. London, Dee. 12. Mr. Ward I'ric.p telegraphs: In fighting like that, on the Asiago plateau Inst week men vanish, not singly or in companies, but in battalions. The new 'heroic standard of resistance to the point of extinction was never upheld with completer self-sacrifice than by the Alpini and Bersaglieri who held Monte E*or to enable their comrades to take up a line of resistance in the rear. These battalions were engulfed in '.ho advancing flood of Austrlans but, fully cognisant of their fat.e they : stood their ground though isolated, anil when their last cartridge and bomb was spent they shook hands and awaited the enemy with the bayonet, each setting his back against a rock. Prisoners relating the .itory 01 llio grim scene dejlare it was- a shambles. ' DARING NAVAL FEAT. WARSHIPS TORPEDOEDAT TRIESTE London, Dee. 12. Sunday night penetrating, the obstructions above and below water, entered,! Trieste and discharged four torpedoes against two warships of the Monarch class. All the torpedoed exploded. The battleship Wien was sunk. Our vessels returned safely, despite enemy torpedoes and intense fire, CHANGE OF ENEMY TACTICS. CONCENTRATION ON MOUNTAIN FRONT. TO STRIKE IN REAR OF PIAVE. BRITISH IMPREGNABLE FQRTRESS,' Received Dec.' 13, 5.5 p.m. Rome, Dec. 12, • 11 Corrierc della Sera states that, the Austro-Germans will make the Piave line secondary to the mountain front, where heavy reinforcements have been sent to try to reach the plain and strike in t'he rear of the Piave defences. Gemnan divisions Jave been- transferred from Monte Palesone westward, where they will have the advantage of the Val Sugana railway, which; is connected with southern Bavaria. The British have transformed MontEllo into an impregnable rock fortress. ITALIAN LINES IsJpREGNABLX New York, Dec. ]>. Mr. Whytc Williams, a Sew York Times correspondent, who has toured tin front, says the Italian dines are imprcg liable. H c is convinced that the Austro-1 German offensive has failed. The Ital ■ inns and thoir Allies have greatly ,*\reng thened the Piave line and snow Will soon prevent an Austrian offensive ill th" mountains. " ,