THE CONFLICT ON THE ASIAGO PLATEAU

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 66, 11 December 1917, Page 5

THE CONFLICT ON THE ASIAGO PLATEAU

ITALIAN GUNNERS AND AIRMEN ACTIVE FRANCO-BRITISH TROOPS TAKE UP THEIR SECTOR OF FRONT London, December 9. An Italian official report states: "Our batteries on the Asiago Plateau heavily shelled the hostile forces. A French patrol, between the Brenta and the Piave Rivers, brought back prisone rs. Our aeroplanes effectively bombarded the enomy's lines of communication on the Asiago Plateau, and fired on troops with machine-guns. Our airships dropped four tons of bombs on the enemy's encampments."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. THE AUSTRIAN WEDGE WHAT FORCED THE ITALIAN RETIREMENT. London, December 9. The Observer's'; correspondent ft Rome states that General Conrad von HoetzendorfFs principal attack began between Mounts Mondarecar and Badenscuhe Jt and enabled him to insert a wedge in this portion of the Italian line, which, is weakest here, since 110 complete defence is possible inasmuch as the positions arc under the enemy's batteries on the summit of Mount Lisser. The wedge thus inserted has changed the direction of tho attack towards the small Foza Plateau, where all the roads and mule-paths meet. The Italians, after a valiant defonce, abandoned the Meletta and Castel Gomberto system, and fell back to the Miela y Spilla line. Five enemy divisions occupied the rocky slopes of the Frenzola and Gadeyna Valleys during the night Tho Italian right wing withdrew across the. Fronzela Valley, and took up positions on the main line of defence. The withdrawal was a complete success, all th o> units maintaining contact. It is estimated that the Austrians massed ten divisions on tho short line from Monto Sisemol to the Brenta, outnumbering the Italians between points by ten to one. The enemy has opened a general bombardment botween the Astico and Monte Grappa, thereby announcing another effort.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ANGLO-FRENCH TROOPS TAKE OVER A SECTOR THE NEW LINE DESCRIBED. (Rec. December 10,' 7.30 p.m.) tu ait? i x , , , Rome, December 9. ine Anglo-1' rench troops have taken over part of 'tho Italian line. The British aie occupying the rugged trendies at tho Montello'crossing. between the mountain front and tho Piave line.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. t, . . , , . T . , London, December 9. TT'ii s ,, cor n es .Pf ) , afc . Headquarters states that tho Montello Hills, which the British strongly hold, extend for ten miles. They are situated in the curve formed by the Piave, whore it debouches from the mountains The position commands thirty miles cf tho Piave Valley and overlooks two mam roads by which the enemy can invade the country from Feltre and Montello. Ihe lulls form a vast bulwark in the way of an Austro-German descent from the eastern side of Mount Grappa.—Reuter.