ITALY.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 November 1918, Page 6

ITALY.

THROWING UP THE SPONGE. ; AUSTRIAN'S RETIRE FROM CONFLICT. London,- Oct. 31. An Austro-Hungarian official message states: On the Venetian Plain the English and Italians thrust further forward and appreciably extended their gains at the places where they had broken through northward and southward of Montello. Taking into account the resolve often expressed to conclude an armistice and peace ending the struggle of nations, our troops fighting on Italian soil will evacuate the occupied region. The eastern wing of our forces operating in Serbia have already crossed to the northern bank of the Danube, and our inarch to t'tie rear on the Save and the Drina continues. The enemy is nowhere following.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Association. ENEMY SWEPT AWAY. SCATTERED IN ALL DIRECTIONS. London, Oct. 31. An Italian communique reports: Eastward of the Piave we continue to advance rapidly, sweeping away the enemy who vainly attempts to stem our march. The heads of our columns reached Serravalle, Ursago, Jairina, and Oderzaf. Our cavalry has been launched on the plauis and some squadrons have entered Sacile. Our 3rd Army, briliantly overcoming strong resistance between the Piave and Monticano, forced an opening into Pontc-di-Piave, which was carried after a very fierce action. We occupied Asiago, taking thousands of prisoners. Many of the captured guns arc still uncounted. We liberated numerous Italian war prisoners whom the enemy worked heavily in the lines of communication. A British-Italian official message states:' Our advance continues. The 3rd Army crossed the Piave to the southward of the 10th Army, which, with the Bth and 12th Armies, advanced rapidly. The Sth Army occupied Vittorio and aerodromes at Tansui and .Pordeno. T)he dumps at Sacile are aflame. Ten thousand hostile infantry were attacked from the air near Sacile and 'scattered in all directions. The British, under General Pennella, commander of the 12th Italian Corps, entered Asiago.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. and Reuter. • - - ENEMY DIVISIONS SURROUNDED. New York, Oct. 31. The whole Italian front is advancing. It is reported that 15 Austrian divisions on the Brenta and Piave front have been cut off and surrounded. —Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. A FULL RECORD. Rome, Oct. 31. In the week's offensive we have taken 20,000 prisoners, liberated 200 villages and 700 square miles of territory.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Renter. WHOLE FRONT ABLAZE. London, Oct. 01. The entire Italian front is ablaze and all the Italian armies are in action largely. —Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. AUSTRIA APPEALS FOR ARMISTICE. London, Oct. 31. The Austrian Commander-in-Chief has appealed to General Diaz, the Italian Commander-in-Chief, for an armistice.