ITALY AT WAR.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15605, 1 June 1916, Page 7

ITALY AT WAR.

THE AUSTRIANOFFENSIVE. ENEMY CLAIMS FURTHER ADVANCE. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Rcccived May 31st, 10.10 p.m.) VIE!\'NA, May 31. An official communique says: — "Our forccs, after crossing the Posina stream, captured a height oil the southern bank." THE ITALIAN POSITION. HEAVY FIGHTING IN THE CENTRE. (Received May 31st, 10.10 p.m.)

HOME, May 31. Very heavy fighting continues on the plateau of tho Scttc Comuni, where the Austrian pressure is strongest. The Italians have ovacuated Asiago, but are holding the hills to the eastward. Tho Austrians are slowly advancing in tho mountainous country north of the town, j Tho Italian winds (sic axe holding and punishing tho Austrians very severely. Her admirable system <~ motor transport has saved tho situation for Itnly by enabling great 'reinforcements to reach the Arsiero-Asiago plateau in time to stop the gap due to the breaking of tho first line. The most serious loss is that of the big guns abandoned on the Monte Niaggio-Tonezza line. HEAVY AUSTRIAN LOSSES. ENEMY'S CALCULATION*? UPSET. (Received Mav 31st. 10.JO p.m.l NE\V YORK, May 31. A message from Milan states that a Sviss officer who has returned from

the Trentino says the Austrian losses during the first twelve days of the offensive averaged 3000 a day. Other reports from Borne state that 09,0J0 A ustrinns wore lighting on the left v/iuy. After seven days more than haif of this number had be?n destroyed. Although the enemy v.'as prepared at all points for a sensational march to victory, ho found that the evacuated territory hail lwx-n denuded even of greonstuffs. ' Calculating that the Italians would retreat, precipitately, the enemy expeetod to find ample stores in the captured iorritnrv, but the iiel'i t-elophoDes wore busy, with the result that, the invading army was without food for twenty-four hours.