AUSTRIAN CENTRE BROKEN

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 47, 24 August 1917, Page 7

AUSTRIAN CENTRE BROKEN

FIRST LINE ABANDONED ON HERMADA

FRONT

ENEMY REINFORCEMENTS

TROOPS BROUGHT FROM GALICIA

(BY TB£EB«A*»,—TJKITBD PRESS ASBOOIATTON.—COFTMGHT.)'

(bedteh'b telegram.)

(Received August 24, 9 a.m.)

EOME, 23rd August,

The Italian offensive has forced the Austrians to obtain reinforcenisntß from the Eastern front. The 12th Division consists mainly of recent arrivals from Galicia.

After nine counter-attacks had been repulsed near Korite, the Italians took the offensive, and captured an entire" regiment. Another brigade assaulted Hills 241 and 247 at least seven times, and took thousands of prisoners. On the following morning it proceeded to assault the strong lines before Selo, in spit* of the determined Austrian resistance.

The enemy has abandoned ajmost his entire first-line from the plateau to th« sea, on s front of four miles. Prisoners are still coming in.

(ATJSTRAHAN-NEW ZEALAND, CABLE ASSOCIATION.)

LONDON, 22nd August.

Th» Daily, Telegraph's Rome correspondent states : The Italian attack deyelops succassfully. The Austrian General, Wurm, after the first day, endeavoared to counter-attack on the Carso with 120 battalions, but was repulsed in disorder. Meanwhile, as the result of later operations on the Cawo, the Austrian c«ntr» was broken, and the whole of the enemy's left wing menaced. Several lines of the enemy's trenches eastward of Gorizia were destroyed.

An Austrian deserter divulged the fact that a detachment of his compatriots were hidden in a huge cavern. The Italians immediately entered, and captured the entire detachment and numerous machine guns. Several caverns on Monte Santo and Monte San Marco collapsed, wiping out whole battalions. The £ghting on Hermiida. Hill was terrible. The western counterposts -were captured with the bayonet. Several thousand additional prisoners, mostly SlaVa, are arriving

LONDON, 23rd Auguit.

Th« Eome correspondent of the. Central News states that the battle contdnuoa with extreme ferocity, especially at Monte Ban Marco, Hermada Hill, iMonts Santo, and Selo.

British monitors rendered valuable assistance in the attack on Hermada. An astounding feature of the day's fighting was the Italian air supremacy. The few Austrian* who attempted to fly were all brought- down.