THE ITALIAN CAMPAIGN.

Clutha Leader, Volume XLII, Issue 91, 23 May 1916, Page 6

THE ITALIAN CAMPAIGN.

ADVANCE POSITIONS ABANDONED. SEVERAL ATTACKS REPULSED. ENORMOUS ENEMY LOSSES. ROME, .May IS. A communique states: Tlie enemy at Lagarina Valley launched five violent attacks upon the slopes north of Zugnatorta, but were driven back with enormous losses. The Adige River carried awav numerous corpses. A violent concentrated lire of guns of every calibre between Terragnola Valley and A'pperastico resulted in our again straightening our front, abandoning some advance positions. The enemy on Monday night repeatedly attempted an attack on the Asiago sector, but were repulsed with very heavy losses. A vigorous attack in the Sagana Valley was similarly repulsed. ROYAL TRAIN BOMBED. PRINCESSES IX DANGER. SPIES AT WORK. MILAN, May 18. Austrian aeroplanes on Tuesday bombed Venice, and thence, assisted by spies, air-raided Mestre at a time when the Italian J'rincesses were travelling to meet the Queen. Italian aeroplanes, with star shells, drove off the raiders, who were following the train. The populace accorded the Royalties an ovation on their escape. THE AUSTRIAN OFFENSIVE. 45 MILE FRONT LONDON, .May l'.i. The Telegraph's Home correspondent states that the Austrian offensive extends from Monteperie, west of Lake Card, to Cimiidodici, east of the Lake front, -15 miles, supported by thousands of guns ami 40 permanent forts, all of which are in action. The principal points of attack are in the Ledro Valley at Zuznatorta, below Roverto, anil the Sugana Valley. The battle is mostly in Austrian territory. The enemy advances are made in masses. The battle began on Monday, raged with furv till Wednesday, and then lessened. The Austrian dead were piled feet high. STRENUOUS AUSTRIAN ATTACK. ROME, May 19. Official: After three days of the most furious bombardment we evacuated Zagnatorta, which is in ruins. We evacuated in a similar'manner the line from Monte Magio to Sagliodaspio, which is in the I'pper Astico. In the Sugana Valley the enemy have everywhere been repulsed. AUSTRIAN COMMUNIQUE. AMSTERDAM, .May L'O. An Austrian communique states: Our attacks on the South Tyrolean frontier continue to gain ground. Our forces advancing between Astico and the Lain Valley drove the enemy back along their entire front and captured armoured redoubts. Since the attack began we have made prisoners of 10,(100 men and taken (iO guns and ol machine guns. EXHAUSTING BLEEDING PROCESS. ROME, May 2'l. The (liornale d 'ltalia states that the live days' Austrian offensive cost them heavy losses. They gained certain advanced positions after great artillery preparations, hut nowhere displaced the Italians from their principal defensive positions. A continuance of the attacks will be an exhausting bleeding process satisfactory to the Italians themselves. OTHER FRONTS DENUDED. TO SUPPORT THE OFFENSIVE. ROME, May i'o. Advices from Switzerland state that the Austrians have denuded Macedonia and portions of the Russian front for the Italian offensive,