FIERCE BATTLE BETWEEN BRENTA AND PIAVE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 300, 17 December 1917, Page 5

FIERCE BATTLE BETWEEN BRENTA AND PIAVE.

ENEMY'S MASSED ATTACKS REPULSED. (Received 9.5 a.m.) LOXDOX, December 16. An Italian official message says that the battle between the Brenta and the Rave continues fiercely. The enemy launched a mass attack yeserday afternoon. Our counter-offensive, aiming at lightening the pressure, twice reached the summit of Monte Pertica. The enemy made a thrust at Col Caprille and southward of Col Delia Beretta. Our counter-attack repulsed the assault erith heavy losses. The enemy reattacked and reached Col Caprille, and firmly held their positions a little to the rearward. We twice repulsed strong attacks at the head of the Monte Aiolurolo salient. A German official message says:—We took prisoner during the last few days three thousand Italians between the Brenta and the Piave.—(A. and X.Z. and Reuter.) The "Matin's" Turin correspondent reports that General yon Buelow's army, comprising nine divisions, is now disposed between General Krobatin's and General Conrad yon HoetzendortFs armies on the spurs of Monte Grappa. The enemy has five thousand guns on the line from Asiago to the sea. The fifth day's battle between the Brenta and the Piave was the most sanguinary since the offensive began. The enemy threw in reserve divisions without regard for his colossal losses. At the end of the day the hills and valleys were literally covered with dead. The bombardment reached unheard-of violence. (A. and >".Z. Cable.)