HEAVY FIGHTING ON MIDDLE ISONZO.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 70, 22 March 1916, Page 5

HEAVY FIGHTING ON MIDDLE ISONZO.

ITALIANS AT SANTA MARIA ENFILADED. - RETIRE QUARTER OF A MILE TO STRONGER POSITION. ROME, March 21. - An Italian communique states:—"A violent engagement developed on the Middle Isonzo on the 18th and 19th inst. The Austrians were reinforced with men and guns. We completely arrested the enemy's progress, then withdrew part of our advanced line about 500 yds to avoid the enemy's new batteries enfilading our Santa Maria positions."

Italy is doing her share at present, towards herserr and her Allies by financial and military efforts which deserve special notice. Italy's expenses in connection with the war have been approximately as follows:—Her preparatory expenditure from August, 1914, to June, 1915, was roughly £71,000,000, and her average expenses since June 1 have been about €17,000,000 per month in cash, and an equal or larger sum devoted to purchases on credit. From the military point of view she has, at stated intervals, called out fresh categories, and last month three new classes for service in artillery were summoned. Finally, what in some respectß is most important of all, she has been training carefully a large number of young officers at military schools. On January 10 a ceremony in connection with the promotion of 3AOO cadets took place at the Military School of Modena, in the presence of the young Duke of Bergamo and representatives of the military and civil authorities. After a review of the newly-promoted yonng officers General Rossi delivered a stirring address. "Italy," he said, "is now about to complete her unity-r-that, marvellous work begun by heroes and martyrs sixty years ago. The hereditary enemy is about to be driven from Italian: lands in the north ' and from'the Italian shores of the Adriatic, For thil war of regeneration and Italian unity the young officer* promoted" to-day will keep their oath of fldafity and do honour to their King and country."