ITALY.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 December 1917, Page 5

ITALY.

j SIX THOUSAND PRISONERS. A GERMAN CLAIM Received Dec. 2C, 5,5 p.m. London, Dec. 25. Wireless German official: On December 24, between Asiago and the Brenta, we stormed the Col del Rosso and heights adjoining to the westward and eastward, taking six thousand prisoners. j BRITISH ACTIVITIES. PATROL AND COUNTER-BATTERY WORK. I Received Dec. 20, 5.5 p.m. London, Dec. 25. , A British official dispatch states: Since a portion of the Italian frontwas taken oyer, active patrol and- counter-battery .work lias been conducted. Our airmen have given a good account of themselves. Severe cold prevails. FIERCE FIGHTING. ON ASIAGO PLATEAU. ITALIAN SUCCESSES. Aus. and N.Z, Cable Assoc. and Reuter. Received Dec. 26, 7 p.m. '

London, Dec. 25. Italian official: On the Asiago plateau tlie battle has continued fiercely and sanguinarily all day. Our counter-attacks succeeded in arresting the enemy. .We recovered batteries atad which had been abandoned during the provious fighting. Our fire destroyed a column advancing from Pertica. 'Ho recovered, and held for some time the summit of Monto Valbella, and also trended the slopes of Col del Rosso. We engaged the enemy under the sumWit in fierce hand to hand fighting. A SURPRISE ATTACK. ITALIANS LOSE TWO POSITIONS. Received Dec. 2«, 11,15 p.m. i London, 'Dec. 26. Mr. Ward Price, writing from Italian headquarters, says the Austrian divisions from the Russian front tielivered a furprisel attack south-east of Sisemol, which is spreading along the Asiago plateau. The weight of numbers forced the Italians from two positions, fighting every 3'ard, but a break through prevented the 'enemy taking prisoners. The state of the weather and the conditions generally are very bad. There is the severest cold. The Austrians were urged to continue fighting in the hope of soon reaching the pSTns and sunshine.

JVIr. Ward Price, continuing, says there is serious fighting in the new sector on the Asiago plateau, to the left of tlio, rrenzila valley, nearer the Brenta. The, enemy aims at winning ground, °j"i so to preserve the regularity of*the advance of the whole enemy line. The entire German force appear# to be concentrated with the Austrian* between the Brent* and the Piave. The enemy is evidontly thinning his troops along'the Piavc with a view to inw» i . l .W the strength of the mountain sector. THE GERMAN VERSION. Wireless German official: We repulsed counter-attacks against our newly won positions and a thrust oil Monti; Pertka. Ibe total prisoners we took at Col del •■Rosso numbers 9000.