ITALY.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 June 1918, Page 5

ITALY.

ITALIAN PRESSURE CONTINUED. SPLENDIDLY EXECUTED ADVANCE. ENEMY CAUGHT IN A TEAP. London, June 25. The Milan correspondent of the DailyTelegraph reports that constant pressure by the Italians continues iminter- j ruptedly. The bombardment of bridges and foot-bridges rendered the situation of enemy troops on the right .bank of the Piave tragically nopeless from the outset. Some divisions in the Montello region were seven days without supplies from the other side of the river. The Italian advance in the Montello sector was splendidly carried out. Some crossed the Piave north-west of the mountain, taking the enemy in the rear. Others smashed the line at Colle-sella-della-Madonna, and drove the Austrians pell-mell into the river, while the right wing occupied Nervesa. The ground along the lower Piave is literally strewn with dead. Since the third day of the Austrian offensive the enemy here has realised that he was caught in a trap. Day and night shelia poured into his passages, and the bridges became only charred posts. A wooden bridge near Musile remained, but shellArc wiped out the engineers, who made desperate efforts to repair it. The bridges at Salegareda and Grisolera suffered, similarly. Whole convoys of supplies which were drawn up oi the opposite bank became an easy mark for the Italian guns.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. ENORMOUS SOOTY. ITALIANS PROUD OF SUCCESS. London, June 25. The Piare battle is apparently dying down to local actions. Advices show that General Diaz on Sunday issued a proclamation explaining the deep importance of the effort about to be made, and exhorting the troops to show the enemy their full force. The armie3 in the night continued to advance. The Italian Embassy in London confirms the statement that the prisoners already counted number 4500, and that there is enormous booty. A semi-official communique says: It is anticipated that the enemy will attribute his retirement to a spontaneous decision because the Piave was flooded, but the retreat was precipitate. The enemy massed twenty divisions on the right bank of the river and brought up artillery in great numbers. Italians are proud of beating all the Austrian army. —Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc, CAUSE OF DISASTER. SPIRIT OF TROOPS BROKEN. London, June 25. It is understood that the Austrian defeat is so crushing that it will be impossible to resume the offensive for several weeks. The spirit of the troops is broken, and some of the best Austrian units have no longer any fighting value. One cause of the disaster was the faulty judgment displayed in the placing of the reserves. The German scheme of attack was cunningly worked out, but the Austrians neglected to apply the German thoroughness in details. Hence tho reserves failed at the critical moment to meet the clever Italian strategy. The line of the Piave, from Montello to the sea, is now most strongly held, and it is impossible for the disorganised Austrian armies to retake it. The military view is that there is not the least likelihood of the Austrians attempting to re-cross the riven Thirty-seven enemy divisions htfve teen identified. — Renter. AUSTRIAN OFFICIAL. STATEMENT OF ITALIAN LOSSES. Received June 20, 9.50 p.m. London, June 25, 6.30 p.m. Wireless Austrian official: There wa9 bitter fighting on the 24th June between Asiago and the Piave, the enemy attempting to recapture the hill positions lost on 16th June. The Italians everywhere were thrown back. The Galician, Croatian, Upper and Lower Austrian, Silesian, Bosnian, and Herzegovinian regiments particularly distinguished themselves. The enemy is feeling his way towards the Piave with his patrols. Our covering troops in the San Dona district warded off strong attacks. During the last few days we have carried out movements according to plan without loss of material. The Italians, since the 15th June, lost over 50,000 prisoners, including 1100 officers. The enemy's total losses at the lowest estimate must be 150,000.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. AMERICAN CONGRATULATIONS DETAILS OF FIGHTING. Washington, June 25. Mr. Baker has telegraphed America's congratulations on the Italian victory. Italian Embassy dispatches indicate that the enem" divisions on our side of the Piave weje decimated. Montello surrendered different attacks. The were broken at Fighting American^^^^^^Hßk° ne land ~ ing in t^ ft" battle j^^^^^^^^-Aus. N.Z. {^^^^^■^■^Lfc^. it^^^^^^^^^^^^m

ITALIAN SUCCESS CONTINUES j

FORCES PRACTICALLY SURROUNDED. MUST SURRENDER OR BE ANNIHILATED. Received June 26, 5.5 p.m. London, June 25. The Exchange Telegraph's Rome correspondent says that Signor Orlando (Premier) informed the Senators and Deputies that the success continues, and that the Austrians are suffering enormous losses. The Giomale dltalia says the troops of the Archduke Josepii and General Wurm are practically surrounded and must surrender or be annihilated.—Press Assoc. ENEMY REARGUARD. COMPELLED TO SURRENDER. FIGHTING STILL PROCEEDING. Received June 26, 8.15 p.m. London, Jpne 25. Italian official: The third army on Monday, having compelled the last enemy rearguard to surrender, we reoccupied completely the right bank of the Piave, taking prisoner 18 officers and 1607 men. Along the northern front at Grappa, after heavy artillery, we gained considerable ground and inflicted heavy losses, taking prisoner 1333 and 18 machine-guns. Received June 26, 5.25 p.m. London, June 25. The latest detailed despatches from the Italian front give the position at six; o'clock on Monday evening, when it was still obscure. Fighting was still proceeding on the mountain to the left of Montello, and the Italians were approaching Montello and Monte Aseloni. The Austrians were putting Tip a stubborn resistance, but COOO prisoners have i already been taken. The Austrians on the Piave sector were already in their old lines. The Italian swecping-up ■ operations were much hampered by the ; flood in the Piave. The bridges were washed away. ' It is not expected that General Diaz will risk big operations eastward of the bridges.—Aub. N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. IN FULL RETREAT. WHAT THE AUSTRIANS PLANNED, i Received June 27, 12.40 a.m. Washington, June 25. Italian Embassy despatches state that the Austrians are in full retreat. Papers found on prisoners slow that Austria expected to force Italy out of the war and make a separate peace. The Austrians fought bravely because they were promised food and booty. Italian hydroplanes set on fire an Austrian ship steaming on the eastern Adriatic coast.—Press Assoc. SHOCKING AUSTRIAN LOSSES. A STRANGE FACT; Received June 26,11.60 p.m. London, June 25. Correspondents on the Italian front insist on the shocking Austrian losses. Twelve divisions, which, maintained a foothold on, the west of the Piave, were [ pounded by the whole Italian artillery. ; Many Austrian units left two-thirds of their effectives on the battlefield. Austrian supplies of ammunition and food were very irregular and deficient. It is a strange fact that though the Austrian artillery was heavily massed on the banks of the Piave at the outset of the attack, the light and medium guns had gone when the retreat commenced. Apparently, the Austrian commanders ( had designed to make the offensive elsewhere when surprised by the utter failure • of their plans—ipress Assoc. KING GEORGE'S CONGRATULATIONS Received June 26,11 25 p.m. London, June 25. The Press Bureau states that the King congratulated the King of Italy on the ; victorious operations. The gallantry and fortitude of the Italians had elicited the admiration of himself and the British people—'Aus.-N-Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter. WEST BANK REOCOUPIED. Rome, June 25. Italian troops have completely reoccupied the west bank of the Piave.— Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc