ITALY.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 November 1918, Page 5

ITALY.

BRILLIANT WORK, ITALIAN ARMIES PRESSING ENEMY HARD. London, Oct. 30. An Tlalian communique states: Our Sth and 12th Armies attacked the enemy frontally wlhile the 10th Army threatened the flank. The enemy abandoned positions on the heights on the left bank of tho Piave, and is retreating hard pressed. We liberated many villages. Our parties closely followed up the enemy, who blew up the bridge on the Monticano. We entered Conegliano. Northward, on the right bank of tiho Piave, we co-operated with troops on tho left bank, and passed, after a lively and brilliant struggle, beyond the Caicino torrent. Bitter fighting continues in the region of Grappa. We took 1000 prisoners and captured over lad guns, of which many are already in action against the enemy, — ' Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. ' 32,000 PRISONERS TAKEN. i RETREAT THREATENING TO BECOME A ROUT. New York, Oct. 30. Thirty-two thousand Austrians have been captured on the Piave front. Tine enemy retreat is threatening to become a rout.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. London, Oct. 30. Wireless Austrian official: On the battle-front wo evacuated the most strongly attacked sector.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. IN A DANGEROUS F>OS!TION. PORTION OF AUSTRIAN ARMY. London, Oct. 30. The latest telegrams from Italian headquarters state that the 10th Army advanced rapidly, and is already using a large number of abandoned Austrian ■ batteries. The advance renders the Austrian position perilous to the southward, as ' the heavy inundations of the entire lowlying region along the coast allow only fJhe narrowest territory for eventual retreat. Over a hundred villages east of the ' Piave have already been liberated, and ] the advance continues on a 60-kilometre ' (36-mile) front.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.

CROSSING THE PIAVE.

FURY OF BRITISH AND ITALIANS. ' Rome, Oct. 30. The British and Italians, after occupying the islands of the Piave, near Papadopr'i, waded the river in a great fury ' and, continuing the charge, cleared the ' first line of the enemy on the other bank. ' The Italians on the, right win waded breast-deep under heavy fire, bearing machine-guns and grenades. Despite the sternest defence, the Bersaglieri, rallying to bugle calls, swept all before them.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. ' The fording of the Piave was a great feat. The river was swollen, the current violent, and rain fell in torrents. The stream was 100 yards wide. The first storm troops crossed by boats to assist in the construction of bridges. These were built five times, ami every time were destroyed by artillery. The sixth effort succeeded. .1 ENEMY YIELDING. UNDER TERRIFIC PRESSURE. 33,000 TAKEN PRISONER. Received Oct. 31, 7.45 p.m. Rome, Oct. 30. American troops have crossed the Piave in pursuit of the Austrians. London, Oct. 30. A British -Italian official r/tat'M: The .10th Army since the commencement of the operations lias prisonered 11,000, whereof the 14th British Corps prisonered 6176 and captured a number of guns and material. The Montello group armies made a magnificent advance and prisonered many.— Aus. N.Z, Cable Assoc, and Renter. An Italian official mesage states: Between the Erenta and the sea, threequarters of the Italian army are engaged in conjunction with Oike 14th British Army Corps, a French division, and an American infantry regiment. The enemy eastward of the Piave is yielding under formidable pressure. We pained advantages yesterday in the region of Ptutioa and Col del Orso. Our operations astride the Piave resulted in the capture of Segusino and Mount Coscm. We reached the outskirts of Quero. Our. Bth Army has reoched Vittorio, and is now fighting northward of Conegliano. r.i*l*flpF Ttlio Third Army crossed the Piave at Sandona di Piavo and eastward of Zenson. The total prisoners number 33,000 and several hundred guns. In Albania we occupied San Giovanni I di Medna, advancing towards Scutari. I ; ;—--

AN AUSTRIAN MESSAGE.

"EVACUATION" OF OCCUPIED. , TERRITORY, ~,. „ Received Nty. 1. 12.50 am. London, Oct 31. A Vienna message states:—ln vie\v of tlie desire for peace, our troops on Italian soil are evacuating the occupied regions. —Reutor. • ITALIANS REACH UVENZA RIVER Received Nov. 1,1.35 a.m. , New York, Oct. 30. The Italians have readied the Livenza River.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assoc.