BHATTLE OF THE CARSO

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3096, 29 May 1917, Page 5

BHATTLE OF THE CARSO

FOUR DAYS' FIGHTING BRIGS FRESH • PROGRESS ' HOW THE BRITISH MONITORS HELPED X3L I* -Tjs- A -»- V' A JLvJT J. .ft. JL \ THE PIRATES END OF U-BOAT WARFARE PREDICTED , After four days of terrific fighting, and brilliant successes, tho great . Italian offensive continues with apparently nndiminished energy and progress. Captured positions have been maintained and extended, fresh nd- ■ vances made, and another tally of prisoners and guns lias been added to the grand total. Thrilling- dispatches by the war correspondents shed a vivid light on the nature of the fighting, in which the Italians, with magnificent dash and courage, and skill with the bayonet, have demonstrated their ascendancy over their enemies. Complicating the troubles of the Emperor Karl and his advisers, the Hungai-ian political crisis has taken a change for the worse. Tisza, clearly unpopular with tho peace section, threatens to obstruct any Government which, does not pledge itself towage the war to the bitter end. There are new developments of importance on the other war fronts. The best news for some time concerning tho submarine war is conveyed in a message which states that tho British authorities havo perfected a means of dealing tho U-boat pirates a staggering Mow, and given success the end of the pirate war is in sight. FOURTH DAY OF THE BATTLE OF THE CARSO ITALIAN GAINS EXTENDED * GRAPHIC DETAILS OF THE FIGHTING . (By Tolegriph—Press Association—Copyright). London, May 27. Ail Italian official report stales: "Wo extended our positions in the eoulh part of the Carso plateau, and maintained the positions captured in other sectors. The artillery was active all day on the whole line. Wo reached a point beyond the Monfalcone-Duino railway north-east of San Giovanni. We carried Hill 145, south-west of Medeazza. Ten field (runs and ammunition and 812 prisoners were taken. Northward of .Tamiano, there was a series of violent attacks and counter-attacks. We reached and passed Castagnavizza, but a concentration of tho enemy's artillery compelled us to evacuato it. We maintained our hold on tho western boundary. We brilliantly eivrried the heights at the head of the Pailiova, Valley, in the Plara sector."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Asso.-Seu-ter. ■ TOLD BY THE CORRESPONDENTS . 'ITALIAN ASCENDANCY IN BAYONET,FIGHTING. Rome, May l>7. Correspondents slate that the fighting on the Julian front is far more severe than any which has previously taken place ou the Italian front, and equal in violence to anything witnessed during tho present war. Tho Austrians transported a number of divisions and a hundred guns from the Russian front, enabling them to put up an unexpected and strong resistance to tho Italian offensive, but the Italians' dash and courage was magnificent, and proved capable of overcoming all resistance. Tbo Italians are far superior tt> the enemy in hand-to-hand fighting, which is tho principal feature of the battle. All positions have been captured at. the bayonet-point. The Austrian losses nre fin , greater than any previously experienced, especially among the Hungarians, several of whose regiments have been almost completely wiped out. The Austrians have prepared a now system of defences still higher in tho mountains, behind tho fortifications of Gorizia and Plava. Pounding at the Bulwark to Trieste The British ami Italian heavy artillery is pounding' the formidable positions at Hcrriiadn, the last bulwark in front of Trieste. Tho Austrians have hurried up two divisions.' The battle of the Carso continues- with extreme violence. Serious riot 3 and open rebellion aro reported from Trieste, owing to tho increased brutality 'of tho police and military towards tho Italians, due to the Italian successes. Many civilians, including women, have been 6hot for expressing satisfaction at the »uccesse3. Great Chance for the Russians. Austrian prisoners, who are- mostly from the Russian and Rumanian Fronts, assert that if the Russians attack near tho Carpathians they would speedily have Hungary at their mercy. The general conditions in Austria are terrible, and lliey cannot possibly resist much longer. The food for the troops is incredibly bad, and they are practically without meat. They state that tho.ro are no Germans on the Italian front; they havo all gono to France, There aro still a number of Bulgarians and Turks and a few German detachments behind tho Austrian lines.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

AUSTRIANS OUTWITTED AND OUTFOUGHT London, Hay 27. The "Times" correspondent at Italian Headquarters stoics that the Italians outwitted and outfought the Austrians on tho Carso front, working a surprise flank attack, whereas the Austrians expected an attack from tho north on tho east of the Vallonc. and had spent all , the winter strengthening their defences where tho Italians broke through in November. Last week tho Austrians withdrew the tired forces and replaced them with fresh troops to rosist the expected attack, which was launched in such an unexpected direction that it resulted in the capturo of a General and hia whole staff.—The "Times." BRITISH MONITORS IN ACTION (Rec. May 2S, 6.20 p.m.) London, May 27. The "Daily Chronicle's" correspondent, describing the part played by the British monitors in assisting the Italians in the Carso battle, states: "From their station midway up the Gulf of Venice tho great guns of the monitors were trained on the enemy's aeroplane hangars and multitudinous military establishments in the neighbourhood of the villages of Prosecco and Contovejlo, on the Trieste railway. Their first shots damaged the railway, and a travelling train vanished in ghastly ruins. The liombardment destroyed the hnngars and the viaduct nnd railway station at Prosecco, and caused a qreat fire at Contov-ello."—Ans.-N.Z. Cable Assn. WORK FOR AUSTRIAN PRISONERS. Rome, May 27. Tho Government, has given permission For the employment of Austrian prisoners of war in harvesting, especially in Sicily and Apulia, where labour is scarce.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE POLITICAL CRISIS IN HUNGARY COUNT TtSZA STILL MISCHIEF-MAKING. Copenhagen, May 27. Tho Tisza crisis has undergone a sicnificint change. Most of tho majoritv parties have joined Count Tisza, thus preventing tho new Prime Minister getting tlio support of tho whole Ministrv. He will therefore lie compelled to dissolve Parliament. The workers arc mnkiiig demonstrations at Budapest in favour of iv general suffrage.— Aus.-N.B. Cable Assn. "DOWN WITH TISZA! WE WANT PEACE!" (Rec. May 28, G. 15 p.m.) London, May 27. The "Daily Telegraph's" correspondent at Milan states that Count Tisza has issued a furious manifesto, declaring that he will offer resolute opposition to any Government which does not prosecuto tho war to the bitter end. * crowd at Budapest hooted Count Tis/.a, nnd assembled before the palace shouting: "Down with Tisaa! Wo .want poace!"

Despite Hio Emnei'or's efforts the party leaders have refused to co-operate, and the. political situation is simply in a state of chnos. Disorders'aro venpi'teil from Budapest and elsewhere in Hungary. Iu addition to the big conflagration at Gycnejcs (reported last.week), tires have occurred in other towns.—Aus.N./i. Cable Assn. ARCHDUKE JOSEPH DECLINES THE PREMIERSHIP. dice. May 28, 6.15 p.m.) Amsterdam, May 27. ■A telegram from Budapest stales that the Arcbduko Joseph lins refused the Premiership.— Kouter. LULL IN THE WEST CONTINUES WITH RAIDS AND COUNTER-ATTACKS London, May 27. Sir Douglas Haisr reports: "Our lino was advanced slightly to-day westward ami north-westward of i'ontaine-les-Croisilles. In a successful raid early this raoruinj; north-westward of AVytsc liaete we secured prisoners. Wo tonducted a successful raid last night north-westward of St. Quentin. Wo repulsed an attack eastward of Loos. The enemy artillery is again active southward of the Scarpe. There were many air reconnaissances aud. bombing raids on Friday. Ten Oiermau aeroplanes were brought down. Five of ours are missing." —Aus.-N.SS. Cable Assn.-Reuter. (Eee. May 28. 6.20 p.m.) London, May 27. Sir Douglas Ha in reports: "We have sained further ground in the neighbourhood of Fontaine-ies-Croisilles, near the Cojeal Eiver. We brought down eleven of the enemy's aeroplanes, Four of ours are missing."—Aus.-N.X. Cable Assn.-Reutcr. ON THE FRENCH FRONT London, Jlav 27. A French official communique states: "Two successive attacks were made against our salients east and west of Cernay (east of Reims) without result. "We attacked on both sides of Mont Cornillet. considerably extending our positions. An ennmy attempt north of the Xaffaux Mill failed. Our air squadrons heavily borabed a number of military establishments and factories, causing several fires."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. HEROES OF THE CALIFORNIA PLATEAU (ttec. May 2S, 10 p.»i) London, Jfay 2S. llculor's special correspondent at. French Headquarters gives a graphic description of the position on the California plateau, .where the. I'rench held out for three weeks in hurriedly improvised trenches. "The men often had only on« meal a day/' ho says. "The importance of the plateau lies in the fact thai! it marks the eastern extremity of a great crest that overlooks southwards the valley of the Aisne, and northwards (he valley of the Ailette."—.Renter. THE GERMAN REPORTS London, May 27. A German official message states: "We carried out surprise attacks on the Chemin-dcs-'Dauies. which considerably improved our positions. We easily repulsed a French counter-attack. Three strong: French attacks southward and south-eastward of Nauroy on a four-kiloiuetro front failed. The enemy lost twenty-one aeroplanes on Friday. A later report states: "We repulsed English reconnoitring advances, southwestward of Acheville. and five French attacks southward of Pai-gny. An attack near Vauxallon failed. We shot down fifteen enemy aviators yesterday." I —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. " ' ' . ■ STARS AND STRIPES AT THE FRONT (Itee. May 23, 10 p.m.) London, May 28. Mr. W. 11. Page (United States Ambassador in London), speaking at the French limbussy, snid that American missions were en route to England to deal with the question of transportation. Tli'e preliminary expeditionary force woitlif shortly lnnd in Prance.—Ane.-N.fi. Cabin Assn. THE PAN-GERkAN IN LINE WITH THE HOOF ALLIES REMARKABLE CORRESPONDENCE SCOPE OF AMERICAN CO-OPERATION VEILED THREAT AGAINST THE AFTER-WAR TERRITORY I CROWN ADJUSTMENTS

lUee. May 28, 6.20 p.m.) London, May 27.^ The German newspaper "Vorwuerts" publishes i-einurkabio correspondence which passed in .May, 1915, between General Gebsattol, writing on behalf of. the I'an-German J/eague, and Herr von Beth-mann-Hollweg. General Gebsattel wrote: "Amongst the broadest circles people ore feeling embittered, and are nearly at desperation because the Imperial Government has made its war aim too narrow. The people see herein a renunciation which would be a, most disastrous political mistake, and the immediate consequence would be a revolution. The monarchy would bo imperilled with overthrow." The writer advocated a peace satisfying the necessities of the people. "Give them what they deserve and claim," he said.

Herr von Bethmann-Hollweg replied, promising consideration of tho writer's demands after Germany had accomplished the complete overthrow of her enemies, . addinc that for the moment tho interests of foreign policy and national defence took -precedence. "Loyal monarchial circles would most grossly violato their duty to tho Crown if they attempted to stir uneasiness among the people abont it limp and timid policy, of which there is no evidence." Herr von Bethmann-Hollweg pointed out the wickedness of any attempt to dictate to thoso. tho Crown had appointed to conduct the "business of the Empire.—The "Times."