THE ITALIAN ATTACK ON HERMADA

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3174, 27 August 1917, Page 5

THE ITALIAN ATTACK ON HERMADA

NEW POSITIONS CARRIED tf HUGE AUSTRIAN LOSSES By IWeirraph-Press Association-Copyright ■_ . Rome, August 24. Hermada Hill" is attacked on all sides, and isolated; but it continues ito pour .out the five of 500 fcannon and thousands of machine-guns. Tho Austrians recognise that its fall will probably cause the collapse of the entire front. An Italian official report states: "The battle oontinues. We carried new positions,, aud repulsed violont. counter-attacks. The prisoners Jiow total 20,000 men and 500 officers, with GO guns. ■ Out aeroplanes bombed massed troops and the !Aii6trian communications. The enemy persists in fruitless attempts in the Tren-tino."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. , (Rec. August 2G, 5.5 pm.) , T , .. , ■ ...... • , London, August. 25. aAn Italian official message states: Tho Tricolor was flown rihee'yesterday km the summit of, Jloiite Santo. Second Army troops are pursuing the retiring enemy on the'. arso front.. lighting continues at Caproni. We bombed tho enemy s trenches in the Chipovano Valley."-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. STUBBORN AUSTRIAN DEFENCE CAIISO, SECTOR HELD BY-BEST TROOPS. r r . »,.• • , ' i, Rome, August 24. ihe Austrian resistance on tho Cargo, is .stubborn. Tho wholo front on the Urso (mormously valuable to tho enemy,.and is held "by his best tjxwps, who are fighting with great bravery, but are losing ground, despite their counter-attacks. The Italian claim of prisoners does not include tho wounded, who are in larger numbers than in any other action on this front.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. AUSTRIAN I)EFENCE LINES BROKEN HOTZENDOB.FI? ASSUMES COMMAND ON THE CARSO (Rec. August 26, 5.5 p.m.) Rome, August 21. The entire Austrian 'first line of defence and in 6ome places the second and third 'lines have been broken. Night fighting is occurring in many s'cctors, nhder powerful searchlights. The condition of the prisoners testifies to the Austrians' inferior equipment Many of them are half famished. Marshal Conrad von Hotzendorff has assumed command on the Careo. General Wurm has been wounded or recalled. The Austrians brought up fresh divisions, including large riumbere of sailors.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. MOST DESPERATE BATTLE OP ITALIAN FRONT "I. GREAT CAPTURES OF STORES AND MUNITIONS. (Rec. Angiist 26, 5.5 p.m.) . . ■ • Milan, August 24. Enemy correspondents at the front agree , that the battle has been iho most desperate yet fought on'.the'ltalian front. Prisoners say tha,t reserves are nouring in from all quarters. Marshal Hotzendorff has assumed command of tho Austrians. The Italians captured large stores, giins, and ammunition at Belo. The Austrians tried to remove them, but tho Italian gunners shot the. horses. Then the gunners tried to remove them by hand, but the barrage cut them off, and nearly all were, taken prisoner. The Italian air supermacy remains unchallenged, and the sky Swarms with Italian machines, whilb scarcely an iustrian, is to be seen on the Italian eido of tho fighting line.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable '.Assn. HUGE ENEMY LOSSES. (Rec. August £6, 5.5 ,p.m.). . . Rome, August 24. It is Estimated'that fi5,000 Austrians were put out of action in the firat four day 6of the offensive. The Austrians assert that the Italians have 9000 guns on a front of 00 kilometres (about 5G miles)-—Aus.-N.Z. Gablo Assn. ENEMY DEFENCE BROKEN (Eec. Aurast 2G, 11.45 p.m.) ' London, Augtfst. 25. Ah Italian official report states:—"Our Second Army broke the enemy defence at several, points. Tho Austrians are defending every yard. TTie retreat is over difficult ground, and the Italians aro closely pursuing. Our air-' men fly low over tho Chiajiovario Valloy, which is crowded with troops, tile infantry being repeatedly bombed."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. TWENTY THOUSAND AUSTRIANS WITHOUT WATER AND FOOD. (Rec. August 28, 11.45 p.m.) Rome, August 25. The fighting at Hermada is of the fiercest description. Thousands of projectiles aTe splintering the. rocks and scattering tho cavorns. Hundreds 'of aeroplanes are dropping bombs. _ Twenty thousand Austrians have been waterless and foodless for five days in the rocky inferno,—AUS.-N.7,. Cable Assn. SPLENDID WORK BY BRITISH AND ITALIAN MONITORS BOMBARD ENEMY DEFENCES AND TRIESTE DOCKS. (Rec. August 26, 5.5 p.m.) , „ , , , .. Roma, August 2."i. 'L'he "Tnbuna's" raval correspondent pays a tribute to the oxcellent woric of the British and Italian monitors in the Cfulf of Trieste. The vessels throw of heavy shells oil vital Austrian defensive works. The Austrians admit that the Italian Navy has beaten all records with its heavy runs. IVhilo the Carso struggle was proceeding, the Anglo-Italian monitors, escorted by numerous torpedo-boats, anti-submarine motor-boats, and aeroplanes, proceeded ilp the gulf, dodged the minefields, and opened fire on Roveici, Hermada, anil the Trieste docks. Meanwhile Italian aeroplanes bombed the Austrian fleet, goading tho Austrian airmen into tho air, but the latter funked a fight. The Austrian commander, finding Trieste within rango of tho new Italian guns, ordered the airmen to destroy the monitors at all costs. The Austrians ;,scended and ihrew bombs, but without result. —Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.

THE FIGHT AROUND LENS y GERMAN TRENCHES CAPTURED FRENCH CAPTURE HILL 304 London, August 21. _ Sir Douglas Haig reports:—"There was fierce fighting south of Lens. Wo now hold German trenches north-west of the Green Grassier. Tho enemy's losses were particularly heavy. Tho Portuguese repulsed two rai«is north-west of La Bassee. The German artillery is active north-west of Ypres?'—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Reuter. (Eec. August 2G, 5.5 p.m.) London, Augu?t 2!). j Sir Douglas Haig reports:—"Fresh enemy troops counter-attacked tho positions we captured on Wednesday in tho neighbourhood of the Ypres-Menin Road. Repeated nssaults forced bade our advanced troops. Fierce fighting at Inverness Copse and Glencorso Wood co ntinues. Our artillery dispersed the German concentrations in this area. Tho enemy's losses wero heavy. We advanced slightly 60uth-east of St Julien. Wo captured a length of German trench westward of Lens, and an enemy post in the neighbourhood of Lombnert'/.yde, securing prisoners. Our artillery is active."—Aus.-N.Z. Ojblo Assn.Reuter. * LINE ADVANCED NORTH-EAST OF LENS. (Rec. August 26, 11.45 p.m.) London, August _25, Sir Douglas Haig reports:—"The enemy heavily bombarded our positions south-east of Epohy, and attacked Guilleraont Farm on both flanks. We recaptured portion of the trenches north-east of the farm. Wo are still in possession of tho farm. We have advanced our lino slightly north-cast of Lens."— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. IMPERATIVE ORDERS TO HOLD LENS FALL OF THE TOWN INEVITABLE. Paris, August 2-1. Tho "Petit Parisien" correspondent states that the Germans have been ordered to hold Lens at all costs, and new troops are arriving. Tho German Headquarters fear that tho fall of the town will weaken the morale of the armies, but its fall is inevitable—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE WONDERFUL FIGHTING OF THE CANADIANS ENEMY TROOPS TERRIBLY PUNISHED. (Rec. August 26, 5.5 p.m.) London, August 25. Mi'. Philip Gibbs, describing the Canadians' wonderful fighting against heavy odds at Lens, states that six Guards divisions attacked, and when Ihey had been shattered .portions of other divisions were engaged. The Germans used over fifty' battalions, and their losses are estimated at. between 12,000 and 15.000. After ten days' furious attack and counter-attack the Canadians seized the GTeen Grassier. . The enemy came in strength, and thrust :them from , the crest, but the Canadians still clung to the wiestern side. The fighting consists an uninterrupted series of fierce and bloody encounters, above and below ground, for redoubts, emplacements, houses, and slag heaps, and is .mostly hand-to-hand, with every kind of weapon. Tho shell fire is indescribable. Men coming out of the inferno seem to be stricken .wlthnightmare. Lens has become a Prussmn tomb and a city of abomination.—ltus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ENEMY DUM PS BOMBED. London, August 25. The Admiralty reports:—"Yesterday morning the naval air service dropped many tons of bombs oh the dumps at Middlekerko and Baversyde and tho Hortyne aerodrome. The machines returned safely."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.Reuter. SUCCESSFUL ATTACK BY THE FRENCH OBJECTIVES' LARGELY EXCEEDED. The High Commissioner reports:— London, August 21, 3.20 p.m. French'- official report:—"To tho left of tho. Mouse at 1.50 this morning, wb attacked between Avocourt Wood and Mort Homme. All our objectives were reached and largely exceeded. Hill SO-1 (west of Mort Homme), which was formidably organised, was captured, also Camarad Wood, and a lino of firmly fortified works to the south of Foi-ges. Tho average depth of our penetration is over 2000 yards." FURTHER ADVANCE MADE. (Rec. August 26, 5.5 p.m.) London, August 25. After capturing Hill '304, tho Frcneli advanced two-thirds of a inilo beyond tho northern foot. This success rounds off the crescent of new front, .and leaves the French established in advantageous positions on tho heights of tho House. Excepting in the matter of gas and other infernal tricks, the German Army has shown itself in every aspect inferior in this test batle.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. (Rec. August 2G, 5.5 p.m.) London, August 25. A French' communique states:—"We haro agai,ii progressed nqrth oE Hill 3fl(. Wo carried last night three fortified works south of Bethincourt, and took 450 unwounded prisoners on tho left bank of the Meuse yesterday, making a total of 8100."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Reuter. LIVELY ARTILLERY DUEL. (Rec. August 26, 5.5 p.m.) London, August 25. A French official communique states:—"ln the Champagne there is a rather lively artillery duel in the region of Mount Toton. On the Verdun front hostile artillery bombarded our new first line, especially north of Hill 301, between Samognenx and Chambiettes Farm."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. ENEMY FORCES INADEQUATE TO MAINTAIN LINE t ONE DIVISION WIPED OUT.. (Rec. August 2G, 5.5 p.m.) London, August ?5. Mr. Warner Allen states:—"The Verdun battle reveals material ovidonca that the enemy forces are becoming inadequate to maintain the existing line. In one tunnel at Mort Hommo 600 prisoners wero captured. Ono division iost 2500 prisoners, and tho division must bo regarded as wiped out. General PersJiiii£ (Commander of the American troops) watched the assault."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. GERMANS ASPHYXIATED WITH THEIR OWN GAS. Paris, August 24. ! 'A French shell on the Verdun front blew up a German gas-shell dump, asphyxiating threo batteries.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT. (Rec. August 25, 5.5 p.m.) London, August 21. \ wireless German official report; states: "We recaptured trenches southward of the Ypres-Menin Road. We destroyed 21 'tanks' on Wednesday, We repulsed the Canadians attempting to enter Lens. There is intense arfallery work on both sides of the Mouse. We evacuated Height 301. —Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.ltoUltoV ' (Rec. August 26, 5.5 p.m.) " London, August 25. A wireless German official report states:-"An English attack astride the Ypres-Menih Road pressed us back to. the north-western nnge of Herent lage Wood Wo surprised and captured Gwillemont Farm, southward of Vendhuille. Wo completely repulsed a French. attack on a front of fhree kilometers (nearly two miles) southward of St. Queutm. TSert is increased fighting at Verdun. French attacks at the Forges River and Hill 301 were unsuccessful. -Aus.-N.Z. I Cable Assn.-Reuter.