DESPERATE FIGHTING ON TRENTINO FRONT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 156, 1 July 1916, Page 5

DESPERATE FIGHTING ON TRENTINO FRONT.

ITALIANS CAPTURE STRONGLY-HELD POSITIONS. ANOTHER ATTACK ON GORZ BEEGTJN. KOME, June 30. An Italian communique statos:—"We made progress on Wednesday between the Adige and the Brenta, despite the growing resistance of the enemy from a barrier of positions prepared beforehand. The Alpini in Val Arsa captured after a desperate fight. Mattasone, while our infantry stormed the ridge of Mont? Appola. The enemy in the evening made a violent attack in the Zugna zone, but t!ii3 was repulsed with the heaviest losses. The difficulties of the terrain on the Posina front and the enemy's heavy artillery hampered our offensive. Nevertheless we carried a strong position on the slopes of Monte Maro and occupied Pedescala. "In the Astico Valley the enemy strongly reorganised the northern end of the Assa Valley and the heights of the left side of Galmarara Valley. The rufjged. woody nature of the terrain is favourable to machine-guns, while from a r-Aition farther in the rear the enemy's heavy gun= can sweep the approaches. On Wednesday we completed the occupation of the southern edge of Assa Valley. •'Our infantry on the Carso Plateau, by brilliant attacks, captured several trenches." An Austrian communique states: —"After actively bombarding the whole of the Doberdo Plateau with numerous heavy batteries with the greatest violence, the Italians made an attack. heavy fighting developed , , especially near Han Martin. The battle continues. All the enemy attacks so far have been repulsed. The Italians also attacked the Gorz bridgehead and elsewhere." y