ITALY.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 June 1918, Page 5

ITALY.

*—-—• UNFULFILLED AUSTRIAN ' .... HOPES. ' "JP^'ji ; HEAVY LOSSES.' ~ •' EMMY-iPOSITIONS EXPOSED. Received' June 19, 5.5 pjn. liondon, June 18. The United Service correspondent on .the Italian front reports: The enemy losses in the British sector were nearly sixfold ours. The general result might suggest a highly successful British assault. Captured documents show the [Austrians hoped on Sunday to secure the heights commanding the whole of the Astko valley A Paris message says that the latest news indicates that the enemy positions on Montello and Santadona axe exposed to concentrated Italian fire, and will soon be untenable unless supported by a general enemy, advance on'the Piave.— I United Service. SUCCESSFUL ITALIAN DRIVES. I : ENEMY WILL GAIN NO | ADVANTAGES. London, June 18. An Italian evening communique states: The enemy on the 17th did not renew the infantry attacks in the mountains and on the Montello front. Our troops made successful drives and occupied a number of positions, capturing machineguns and some hundreds of prisoners. Important actions developed south of Montello and along the IPiave, in the zone between Zenson and Fossalta, but the enemy was everywhere stopped by our counter-attacks and abandoned several hundred prisoners. Attempts to cross the river between Maserada and Pandelus were repulsed with heavy losses. Our counter-attacks now developing on the lower Piave have | assured that the enemy will gain no advantages.—Aus. NJZ. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. i AUSTRIAN LOSSES. A THIRD OF THEIR STORM TROOPS. NINE DESPERATE ASSAULTS ON MONTE GRAPPA. Received June 19, 9.30 p.m. Rome, June 18. The din of battle is now loudest on the Piave, having lessened on the mountain front, where the enemy losses were stupendous. Along a 25-mile front, between Valdassa and Mont Tomba, the Austrians lost fully a third of their storm troops, which were left strewn on the ground. Before withdrawal to the original entrenchments, no fewer than nine desperate assaults on Monte Grappa, always with fresh reserves, failed. Before the enemy desisted, the craggy slopes were black with corpses and littered with broken machine-guns and rifles. THE POSITION DESCRIBED. AUSTRIANS GAIN SOME GROUND. ITALIAN COMMAND FEEL COMFORTABLE. Received June 19, 9.15 p.m. London, June 18. Italy reports that the present position on the Italian front is as follows: The Austrians reached the right bank of the Piave from the Conegliano railway to the Zenson bend, advancing about a mile. The Austrians reached the second Italian line on a three-mile front between Zenson and the sea. They have thrown fourteen bridges across the Piave and secured two-thirds of the rising ground near Montello. Otherwise they have made no progress since Monday. The Austrians are apparently trying to link two bridge-heads on the Piavo front, Already the Austrians have used thirty-three divisions in the attack, including a division of dismounted cavalry. The enemy and the Piave bridges are incessantly bombed and machine-gunned by aeroplanes. The Italian command feel comfortable as to the present position, except as to Montello. 'Plenty of reserves are available. Danger certainly exists regarding Montello, but the position is not extremely serious. The Austrians advanced four miles very slowly. The British front is almost intact. Austrian losses are heavy and they could have progressed further if they seriously desirrl, Lack of persistence is possibly due to disaffection. There is certainly some demoralisation.—Press Assoc.

AUSTRIANS GAIN MONTELLO HEIGHTS. Received June 19, 9.35 p.m. London, June 18, 5.30 p.m. The Austrians have gained the Montello heights.—Reuter. ITALIANS ABLE TO HOLD THE ENEMY. London, June 18. The battle in the mountains of northern Italy is dvin.2 out. It is fiercer towards the sea. The Italian command is satisfied that it is able to hold the enemy.—Aus. Cable Assoc. FAILURE OF OFFENSIVE, London, -Tune 18. The French press is satisfied that the Austrian offensive is a failure British and French military critics opine that the Italian situation is excellent, The principal battle is raging lor the Montello :rest, which is crossed north and -nuth by 24 roads. If taken, it wo'.-M "nable the Austrians to dominate fro™ "•<: flank the rear of the Italian posit:..- ™. tk Viave.-A->» NJL Cable

A SERIOUS PLIGHT. ■ -WWB& ENEMY CAN ESTABLISH' BRIDGEHEADS. Received June 19,11.45 p.m< London, June -19. Beater's correspondent at Italian-head-quarters points out that unless the Austrians can establish bridgeheads where they crosssed the Rave and get theft guns over, especially on to the small section at Montello, which they hold, probably the only result of the crossing will be that they will become prisoners. AUSTRIANS BEACH SECOND LINE. Vancouver, June 18. The Austrians reached the Italian second line on a 15-miles front between Zengon and the' Adriatic, thrusting towards Venice. The enemy state they captured 30,000 .prisoners and reached the Eosett* esaaL r-Reuter. . , (J ..