THE ITALIAN OFFENSIVE.

Clutha Leader, Volume XLIII, Issue 92, 1 June 1917, Page 6

THE ITALIAN OFFENSIVE.

POSITIONS STRENGTHENED. SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS. LONDON, May 28. An Italian official message states: We strengthened our positions on the Julian front, and captured stronglyfortified positions east and south-east oi Jamiano. AYo crossed the Timavor River, occupied San Giovanni, north west of Dummo, and captured nine Gin. guns. We repulsed counter-attacks at Vodice and on the heights eastward of Gorizia. ITALIAN ARMY ALMOST INTACT. SUPERIOR ARTILLERY. ROME, May 29. The Italian Army, after a six-days' battle, is still fresh and almost intact. It inflicted tremendous losses. The results are due to the superior Italian artillery and the effectiveness of its fire, the Austrians firing blindly owing to the lack of aeroplanes and balloons. The profile of Hermada has been completely changed and resembles an immense ruin. _ The Austrians are hastily constructing defences nearer Trieste. AUSTRIANS EVACUATING TRIESTE ITALIANS TAKE 25,000 PRISONERS. ROME, May 28. It is reported that non-combatants have been ordered to evacuate Trieste, and the archives and bank deposits have been removed. IMPORTANT PROGRESS. POSITIONS ESTABLISHED. WELLINGTON, May 30. The High Commissioner reports as follows, dated London, May 29 (5.20 p.m.) : A Rome official report states: At Plava the enemy has been driv.cn to the end of the valley to the cast of Globna aud wo have taken 100 prisoners. On the Julian Alps the captures since May 14 amount to 23,691 prisoners, including 604 officers, and 36 guns, including 13 heavies, 148 machine guns, 27 trench mortars and a large quantity of other material. On the south-east slope of Mount Vodice we are overcoming tenacious resistance. Tho enemy is hidden in caves. We have made important progress and have established our positions. ' A BATTLE OF INFANTRY. FURTHER OFFENSIVE PREPARA-j TIONS. LONDON, May 29. Mr Keith Murdoch (special representative of the Sydney 'Sun'), who is visiting the Italian front, after reviewing the position of the armies says: "The battle is essentially one of infantry. Tho folds of the hills and gullies and the peaks prot<M.t the Austrian machine gunners from the Italian guns, compelling the infantry to do most of the work that is being done against the strongly-placed machine guns, of which the Austrians have large supplies. The Austrian artillery does little counterattack work, conserving the shells for defensive barrages during an attack. There are indications that the Austrians have drawn many guns to these regions. I saw 18,000 prisoners, mostly Dalmatians, Czechs and Hungarians, of all ages from 18 years to 15, but 90 per cent, were from 22 to 32 years. They struck tne as muscular in appearance, showing that they have not suffered from a shortage of food." Mr Murdoch says: "A lull in tho fighting is necessary in preparation for a further offensive, particularly hero, where the skill of the Italian sappers alone makes war possible. Ridge after ridge must bo systematically bought at their price until the gates are unlocked, perhaps months ahead. Every trench must be blasted from rocks, and miles of tunnels exist. None can question the valor of tbe Italians nor the heartiness of their war effort. Italy's figures ia regard to mobilisation would •etonigh the world,"

AUSTRIAN EMPEROR FURIOUS. AT HIS ARMY'S FAILURE. ROME, May 29. It lias been learned that the Austrian Emperor returned from the Isonzo in a state of fury and despair at Austria's failure to resist the Italians' offensive. He ordered the dismissal of the general commanding the Kuk sector, where the Austrian losses reached 14,000 in a single day. THE DEFENCE OF TRIESTE. GERMAN GENERALS' ADVICE. ROME, May 29. The Zurich correspondent of the 'Corriere d'ltalia' states that the Austrian , i General Staff held a Council of War at Laibach and decided to dofend • Trieste at all costs. Although Generals von Falkenhayn and Ludendorff, considering the situa--5 tion hopeless, advised abandonment I and withdrawal to a stronger line of defence, the advice for political reasons was not accepted in Vienna, where a bitter anti-German feeling prevails.