HUNGARIAN BATTALION ANNIHILATED.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 146, 21 June 1915, Page 5

HUNGARIAN BATTALION ANNIHILATED.

SURPRISED AND SURROUNDED ON A MOUNTAIN-SIDE. ITALIAN AIRSHIPS DROP BOMBS ON AUSTRIAN POSITIONS. ROME, June 20. An official communique states: — Our artillery continued to bombard the Austrian fort of Malborgetto, which attempted to reply, but was silenced. On the night of the 17th our airships dropped bombs on the Austrian positions at Monte Santo and the enemy's trenches near Gradisca, and partially destroyed the railway station at Ovciadrega, on.the Gorz-Dornberg line. Details of the annihilation of a Hungarian battalion in the Monte Xero region show that the Hungarian* climbed the Viata mountain, hoping to outflank the Itnlian position. Italian Alpine troops, creeping through the undergrowth, withheld their fire until the enemy were at close range, when they poured a rain of bullets into the Hungarian ranks and sprang forward with their bayonets fixed. The enemy, terrified and confused, tried to escape, but found Alpine troops on every side. The entire battalion was killed or taken prisoner.

With a garrison aggregating 30.000 men and powerful natural and artificial defences multiplying the possibilities of resistance. Tolmino. on the Upper Isonzo. is gradually becoming for Italy what Przcmyel has been for Russia. Tolmino being the key to the Isonzo Valley, an early capture with a view to ensuring the safety of the Friuli frontier is indispensable.

The Austrians have been reinforced. More attacks have been delivered without result against the Italians who arc encamped at Brentonico, on the elopes of Altissimo Mountain;' at Scrravalle, in the Langarino Valley; and also in the Area Valley.