ITALIAN BATTLE RESUMED

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3184, 7 September 1917, Page 5

ITALIAN BATTLE RESUMED

CONFLICT OF TERRIFIC VIOLENCE RAGING IMPORTANT POSITION . CAPTURED AUSTRIA! ATTEMPT TO COUNTER RUSSIAN RETREAT GERMAN MOVE TO MASTER THE BALTIC

> The great struggle oil tho Austro-Italian front, -whick had lulled, comparatively speaking, for ;v fow days, has boon resumed, willi great violence. Tho Italians have captured an important position, and taken a "bag" of prisoners. Tho Austrians havo attempted a countor-offensivo in tho Carso, and achieved a temporary snecess, but the Italians havo now ro-esfpblishcd tho lino. A message from London states that news of tho capture of Monte San.. Gabrjolle has been confirmed, but the official communique has no .reference to it. Tho Austrians, driven from their main naval base at Pola by the persistent and damaging air raids of tho Italians, have transferred their main floct to Kumo. Another report hints that anew and powerful Allied offensive- will shortly bo undertakon on the Italian front. The situation,on-the Bussiau front is no brighter—if any- , thing, it is worse. Tho Russians on tho Eiga front aro still retreating, and the onomy is creeping up the coast north-eastward of Eiga. The fall of Riga has startled tho Russian public, and intrigue is at work in tho Council of Soldiers and Workmen to remove General Korniloff. Rumours of military assistance from Japan aro revived, this time from a Gcrinnn source. The submarines' week of piracy has resulted in tho loss of 20 laTge British steamers, as compared with 18 last seek-. FALL OF SAN GABRIELLE CONFIRMED MANY PRISONERS AND MUCH BOOTY CAPTURED RUMOURED NEW AND POWERFUL OFFENSIVE ■ ■ i By Telegraph-Press Association- Copyright • London, September 5. The Central iSfe-.vs Agency confirms the reported capture oC Monte San Gabriello, with many prisoners and much booty. The "Cologne Gazette ,, foreshadows a further Austrian retirement.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. BATTLE RENEWED ON THE JULIAN FRONT IMPORTANT POSITIONS CAPTTJEED, AND MANY PEISONEKS. * (Eec. September G, Bis p.m.) ,-.,,._.,,, ■ London, September 5. An Italian official report states: "The battle on tho Julian front has been renewed with great violence. We have captured an important position south-west of Okroglo. A battle is raging north-cast of Gorizia. Wo took prisoner yesterday 1688 men belonging to ten different regiments. The enemy violently attacked us between/Castagnavizza and the s,ea. The enemy gained an initial success be;ween tho Brestovizza Valley and the sea, but our counter-attack i-e-established tho line. Two hundred and sixty-one aeroplanes participated in the battle. Our air leet last night effectively bombarded Pola, and returned safely."— \us-N Z Cable Assn.-Reuter. "THE AUSTRIANS HAVE BEEN LYING LOW" ENERGETIC AND DESPERATE ATTEMPTS RENEWED. (Eec. September C, 10.5 p.m.) v On the Italian front on Wednesday the fighting nortli-east°of Resumed with gTeat violence, sufficiently proving that the Austrians have been iyin» ow during the past few days. It has been found that definite deductions cannot be drawn from the comparative quiescence of the enemy's artillery. If it is- less active than the Italians, that does not necessarily signify a shortage of ammumtiom .Tuesday's heavy bombardment of the Italian communications in and around Gorizia shows that the Austrians are alive to the importance f' their present positions. The Austrians are continually bringing uip reserves and- enormous numbers of machine guns, sacrificing regiment after regiment in the hope of weakening the Italian attacks. Thejr old formidable trenches havo now been wiped out, and the Homeric struggle developed into continuous hand-to-hand fighting. Meanwhile the Italians are pitilessly shelling the Austrian caves and dug-outs. The latest prisoners state that thousands of their wounded have bee-i ying the-re for days. It is impossible to succour them. The Austrian offensive in the Carso no doubt aims at breaking the circle of steel irhieli is <rradu«llv closi;i" round Hermada Hill.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ° A SIGNIFICANT AND SERIOUS ADMISSION. mi -r. t. ,_, ' ~ Bfrne, Sentember 5. The. Press Bureau/ at Vienna sn.ve that tho Austrian divisions on the Italian front had done their whole duty, but were crushed by the enemy artillery. This is the most significant and .-serious admission hitherto made— -his-AT '/j Cable Assn. . A NEW ALLIED CAMPAIGN AGAINST AUSTRIA •New York, September 5 The United Press Agency at Washington learns that the Allies aro likelv to shortly undertake a new and strong campaign against Austria. Strong pressure will be exerted to induce America to declare war on Austria.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. MAIN AUSTRIAN NAVAL BASE TRANSFERRED TO FIUME. (Eec. September 6, 7.40 p.m.) London, September 5. According to Austrian newspapers Tola is no longer the principal Austrian naval base. Owing to the destructive-air raids the main Austrian ileet has been transferred to Fiume.— Reater. ' RUSSIAN RETIREMENT ON RIGA FRONT CONTINUES ENEMY CREEPING UP .THE COAST A BLOW AT THE BALTIC LITTORAL London, September 5. A llussian ofiiciul eport states: "Our retirement along tho Gulf of Riga continues. The enemy has reached tho ciossings of the River Aa, fifty versts (11 miles, roughly) north-east of Higa. Our troops, which were operating eiislward of Riga, retired to Segowold, Limburg, and Daweubruzd. German submarines shelled the Riga coaet. Our counter-attacks drove the enemy from the heights near Slobodzeia. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-lteiiter. GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT London, Seplmnubr 5. A German official report states: "Our operations at Riga have fu.illier developed. Heavy coast, guns, including tlioee of thirty centimetres calibre, were captured undamaged."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable jhsn.-Keulcr. (Roc. September 7, 0.50 a.m.) London, September G A Gorman official report. elatee: '"L'lin northern iving mid coiih-o of the Twelfth Russian Army is rapidly retreating."—Aus.-iN'.Z. Cable Aeau.-Eouter.