ITALY.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 June 1918, Page 5

ITALY.

A VAST CEMETERY. AUSTRIAN LOSSES QUARTER OF A MILLION. ITALIAN ARMS ENTHUSED. Milan, June 2G, The whole countryside between Montello and Sandonna is a vast cemetery. Thousands of unburied corpses in certain places render the air unlreathable. It is estimated that the Austrian losses since the offensive began are now nearly a quarter of a million. Many Italian prisoners and wounded have been recovered. An airman detected the Austrians moving inland on the left bank with a prodigious array of artillery, amounting to 3000 pieces. Italian strategists anticipate that the Austrians in the near future- will concentrate in the mountain sectors. They point out that they are still capable of a considerable efiort.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. London, June 28. The latest information to the evening of the 24th is that the Italians are attacking Monte Volbella and Monte Asolone. They have advanced, but are meeting Very strong resistance. The Italian line is back exactly where it was before the offensive, and the Austrians are apparently attacking from their old trenches. The river is again rising and sweeping away some Italian bridges, hindering the crossing. A certain amount of fighting is proceeding on the extreme right of the Italian line.—Reuter. Mr. Ward Price says the recaptured batteries were filled with explosives and ready for destruction, but the speed of the pursuit prevented it. The Austrians decided to re-cross the Piave on Saturday night. They started as secretly as possible at 2 o'clock in the morning, leaving, a formidable array of machine-guns constantly filing to keep up the impression of unchanged strength. When patrols discovered the truth, the news of the withdrawal was flashed from Montello to the sea. General Diaz immediately ordered an attack on the whole front. The retreat was so flurried and panicstricken that some troops seized boats loaded with artillery horses, throwing overboard the animals, which were drowned in the swift stream. The 31st and 32nd Austrian Rifles fought a gallant rearguard action on the Upper Piave for 48 hours, and the 80 who were left surrendered. The commanding gen» eral. Von Oonstradt, shot himself. The whole Italian army is at the zenith of its fighting enthusiasm and worth twice what it was a week ago.—Times. Italian official:—Having re-occupied the bridgehead of Caposile, we yesterday" extended it, provoking and withstanding resolute counter-attacks. Wc prisonered 379, also a few hundred at the clearing of the battlefield.—Press Assoc THE ITALIANS ADVANCE. FLOODED PIAVE HANDICAPPING ITALIANS. Received June 27, 10 p.m. Rome, June 28. The Italians advanced a mile on the Grappa sector and south-west of Mont Asolono, capturing a further 1900 Austrians. As the Piave is still in flood, the Italians are unable to build sufficient bridges to enable them to land a large force on the eastern bank. It is estimated the Austrian casualties are at least 160,000, while the Austrians claim to 50,000 prisoners is absurd.—ißeuter. AUSTRIANS CHASED ACROSS. REMNANTS SURRENDER > Received June 27, UL4S jun. London, June 26. Mr. Jeffries writes that not a single man remains on the west bank of the Piave, the last remnants surrendering on Wednesday after being chased from a ditch in marshy ground beyond the Musile. ■ The other last point of resistance wag the river bend, at CMesanuova, where 1600 surrendered. RXAG<SE3RATBD AUSTRIAN CLAIMReceived June 27, 2.15 p.m. Rome, June 26. The Italian General Staff states that the Austrian claim that the Italian losses total 150,000 is exaggerated. They certainly are nothing approaching that figure.—Press Assoc. 20,000 PRISONERS TAKEN. Received June 27, 2.15 p.m. London, June 26. It is estimated that the Italians have taken 20,000 prisoners since the commencement of the offensive.—Reuter.