ITALIANS FIRMLY HOLDING THE NEW LINE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 149, 24 June 1918, Page 5

ITALIANS FIRMLY HOLDING THE NEW LINE.

SUCCESSFUL COUNTER-ATTACKS ON BRITISH SECTOR.

LONDON, June 23.

An Italian official report stales:—The enemy's offensive has not been renewed since Thursday evening. We sanguinarily repulsed a strong local attack in the direction of Losson. The enemy concentrated a violent fire in the direction of Montello and in the Monte Grappa region. We crushed subsequent infantry advances. We again enlarged our bridgehead at Cavaziiccherina, near the mouth of the Piave, penetrated a post on the Asiago Plateau, aud captured the garrison. We brought down 10 aeroplanes. An earlier report stated:— enemy pressure at Montello continued strongly on Thursday, but was everywhere held, our counter-attack regaining ground. The enemy attempted advances westward and southward. An animated struggle took place particularly east of the Casa Baenaria line and iv the vicinity of the Ncrvesa station. We took -100 prisoners and recaptured two batteries which were promptly turned against the enemy. We completely repulsed an attack west of Candelu, on the river line. Our Counter-offensive before Fagare and Zenson, on the Middle Piave, begun Wednesday night, continued irresistibly, carrying us to positions of the previous day. Tlic enemy suffered heavily. We took several hundred prisoners. The enemy, west of San Dona Valley, north of the Montello Ridge, attacked four times against Lasson, being forced to desist by exceptionally heavy losses. Parties of sailors north of Cortellazzo, at the river mouth, daringly broke into the enemy lines, taking 200 prisoners and firmly retaining the captured position. We extended our bridgehead at Cavaziiccherina, on the River Silo, near the coast. American airmen participated in the battle for the first time.

A report from British headquarters in Italy states:—The situation on Saturday was unchanged -on the British front. Our counter-attacks have been most successful. Many direct bits were obtained on hostile batteries, and our shells also exploded numerous dumps. Yorkshire troops on Friday night successfully raided positions south of Asiago, inflicting heavy casualties. Between June 12 and 21 we destroyed 30 aeroplanes. Two British machines arc missing. ,

An Austrian communique states: The enemy on June 20 made an effort with undiminished violence in a vain attempt to recapture positions we won westward of the Piave. The struggle on Montello Plateau increased in violence. We destroyed wave after wave of enemy storm troops in hand-to-hand fighting on a front of seven miles, the Italians throwing in reserve after reserve. We captured 3200 prisoners at Montello alone.

A further Austrian communique states:We repulsed Italian attacks at. Montello and west of Sangena. The enemy between June 15 and 20 lost 42 aeroplanes. Our prisoners now number 40,000, including a few Czechoslovak legionaries, who immediately were subjected to the treatment prescribed by martial law.— (A. and N.Z. Cable.) . ' •