ITALY

Taranaki Daily News, 28 December 1917, Page 5

ITALY

VIOLENT ITALIAN COUNTERATTACK. „ ' . A GERMAN REPORT. London, Dec. 20. A wireless German official message states:—A violent Italian counter-attack at Col Dell *Rosso broke down with heavy losses, SNOW FALLING ABUNDANTLY. THE ASIAGO OFFENSIVE FAILS. COXRAD'S MEN LED TO SLAUGHTER 20.000 USELESSLY SACRIFICED. Admiralty, per Wireless Press. Received Dee. 27, 8.50 p.m. London, Dec. 26 A wireless message from Rome states that snow is falling abundantly throughout Italy. General Conrad's offensive on the Asiago plateau is considered to have failed, the latest attacks being fatal for the Austrians. General Conrad marched his troops, not to attack, but to slaughter, under showers of shells from hundreds of Italian guns, approximately twenty thousand being sacrificed uselessly on Christmas Eve. The impression treated was that it was disastrous, even at the Vatican, where such a crime was not expected from very Catholic Austria. ASIAGO BATTLE CONTINUED. ENEMY ATTACK CHECKED. Received Dec. 27, C.7 p.m. London, Dec. 26. Wireless Italian official: The struggle on the Asiago plateau re-commenced at dawn yesterday. The enemy concentrated between Col del Rosso and the Val Franzela, but he was unable to advance beyond Sassoe. We recaptured the Col del Rosso and Monte Yalbclo, but were unable to retain them. Our barrage checked attacks or. the left bank of the Brenta river.