ITALY'S TERRITORY INVADED

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 30, 30 October 1917, Page 5

ITALY'S TERRITORY INVADED

GORIZIA CAPTURED GERMAN TREACHERY CAMPAIGN UNMASKED By Telegraph—Press Association-Cony ri&ht (Rec. October 29, 11.25 p.m.) ' London, October 29. An Italian official report states:—"The failirig resistance of some units which formed our Second Army—they either retired in cowardice without fighting, or surrendered—allowed the Austrp-Gennans to penetrate our left wing on the Julian front. The valiant efforts of our troops were unablo to prevent the enemy advancing on to Italy's sacred soil. We aro withdrawing oar lino according to a prepared plan, All th<j stores and depots in the evacuated placcs were destroyed. The record of so many memorable battles that have successfully been fought by our brave soldiers during two and a half years of war is sufficient to assure the Commander-in-Chief that the Army to which the country's honour and safety has boen confined will know how to fulfil its duty."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. THE SHADOW OF TREACHERY ' . INSIDIOUS GERMAN PROPAGANDA. CRec. October 29, 11.25 p.m.) London, October 26. Mr. Ward Price writes:—"An insidious and widespread German propaganda in Italy accompanied the enemy's offensive. General Cadorna's measures on his now line of defence should enable the troops who are fighting on the heights to retire on their first support."—"The Times. > . I • ■ • I THE ENEMY'S REPORTS ! (Rec. October 29, 11.25 p.m.) London, October 28. A German official report states:— The rapid development of our United attack on the l6onzo was entirely successful. On Saturday, by a powerful thrust we threw back the Italians, who were_seeking to prevent U6 from emerging from tiie mountains. Wo entered Cividale, which is burning. The Austrians and, Germans took Gorizia early this morning. v The prisoners captured now total eighty thousand, aud tho guns six hundred."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Reutor. THE AUSTRIAN REPORT. (Rec. October 29, 11.25 p.m.) Amsterdam. October 28. An Austrian official Teport states:—"The Austrians have occupied Gorizia, and tho Italians have withdrawn across the Isonzo."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. ' A FIGHT TO A FINISH OPINIONS ON THE AUSTRO-GERMAN .OFFENSIVE, , " (Rec. October 29, 7.45 p.m.) ' . ' . ... Rome, October 28 War correspondents, are unanimously of opinion that the Austro-German offensive means a fight to a finish,- because Germany is determined to seek a political victory over Italy's stubborn resistance to Germany's pacifist activities. Germany, aiming at the disruption of tho Entente Alliance, has planned an offensive on a tremendous scale. Troops and transports for weeks have boen pouring in from the Balkans and Russia, whioh fronts are now almost stripped. The armies include some of the finest of the German troops. All aro well ' equipped with artillery and macliinc-guns. The latest bulletins indicate that the Italians have not yet stemmed the assaults.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. OPINIONS IN ENGLAND: EXPECTED CALL FOR HELP. (Rec. October 29, 7.45 p.m.) London, October 28. Military critics admit that the present offensive is a. grim ordeal for Italy; that it may be necessary speedily to come to her aid, especially. with artillery reinforcements.—Aue,.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. EXAGGERATED STORIES OF ENEMY'S STRENGTH AUSTRO-GERMAN FORCES ANALYSED. (Eec. October 29, 1.10 a.m.) ~ , • •. .. ' London,' October 28. It is authoritatively reported that the number of enemy troops that have recently arrived on the Italian front hns boon grossly exaggerated. So far as is known only five German divisions are on tho Isonzo front, of which enly three have definitely been identified by tho Italians aB participating in the attack. Possibly another German division has arrived, but it is not engaged in the attack. Two out of the five above-mentioned divisions came from the Wees tarn' front, where they had- suffered heavily at the hands of the British, and where they wore replaced by two divisions from Russia. The German strength on tho West front is therefore undiminished. Indeed, it has been increased by two divisions sinco August 1. The remainder of the German reinforcements on the Italiau front were transferred from Russia and Rumania. Regarding the Austrian reinforcements, only two Austrian divisions are known to have arrived on the Italian front last month, but possibly two others have recently arrived, though they have not yet been identified. The total number of reinforcements, tfierefore. known to have arrived on the Italian front amounts only to 6even divisions, and the enemy's success is entirely due to the presence of from three to five German divisions, who attacked on the Plezzo-Tol nuno front. -Au6.-N.7i. Cable Assn.--Jteu.ter. THE CABINET CRISIS (Rec, October 29, 11.25 p.m.) r rx ■ Rome, October 28. Signor Orlando has been askod to tovm a. Cabins!. It is anticipated Jhafc there will be few changes in the Mimatry a.t present—Reuter. AMERICA'S CONTRIBUTION OF AID. .„ ' T1 . Washington, October 28. The United States trill provide Ttaly wilh 100,000 tons of shipping immedialely, mostly taken from coastal tranic. —IvOutgi.