VIOLENT ATTACKS ON THE ITALIAN LINES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 69, 14 December 1917, Page 7

VIOLENT ATTACKS ON THE ITALIAN LINES

AUSTRO-GERMAN FORCES THROWN BACK LOST POSITIONS REOCCUPIED London, December 12. An Italian official report states: —"Between tho Brenta and the Piave Rivers, yesterday, the Austrians violently attacked at Col Delia Berretta and Oil Dell'Orio. The Germans, in strong force, stormed Monte Spinencia and the defences in the Calcina Valley. _ Tho struggle continued all day. "We temporarily abandoned a few positions, but reoecupied nearly all of them during our counter-attacks."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. ITALIAN LINES NOW REPORTED IMPREGNABLE FAILURE OF AUSTRO-GERMAN OFFENSIVE. New York, December 12. Mr. Whyte Williams, a New York "Times" correspondent, who has toured the front, says that tho Italian lines are impregnable. Ho is convinced that the Austro-German offensive has failed. The Italians and Allies have greatly strengthened the Piave line, and snow will soon prevent an Austrian offensive in the mountains. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

A GLORIOUS PAGE FOR ITALIAN HISTORY

THE HEROIC DEFENCE OF M ONTE FIOR. London, December 12. Mr. Ward Price writes:—"ln fighting like tlmt on tho Asiago Plateau during tho past week, men vanish not singly or by companies, but by battalions. Tho new heroic standard of resistance to tho point of extinction iv,l3 never upheld with more complete self-sacrifice than by tho Alpini and IJcrsaglieri, who held Monte Fior to enable their comrades to take up a line of resistance in the rear. Thcso battalions wqro engulfed in an advancing flood of Austrians; but, fully cognisant of their fate, stood their ground though isolated. When tho last cartridge and bomb had been spent, they shook hands and awaited the enemy with the- bayonet, each setting his back against a rock. Prisoners say that a grim scene followed; it was a sham-bles."—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. THE ENEMY'S MOVES REVIEWED (Rcc. December 13, 5.5 p.m.) Rome, December 12. The "Corriere della Sera" states that the Austro-Gerraans will make the Piavo line secondary to tho mountain front, whero heavy reinforcements have been sent to try to reach tho plain and strike at the rear of tho Piavo defences. German divisions have been transferred from Monte Palcsone westward, where they liavo tho advantage of tho Val Sugana railway, which is connected with southern Bavaria. Tho British have transformed Montello Hill into an impregnable rock fortress.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.

ITALIAN NAVAL RAID ON TRIESTE HOW THE BATTLESHIP WIEN WAS SUNK. London, December VI. An Italian official report states:—"Our light craft on Sunday night, penetrating obstructions above and below -water, .entered the harbour of Trieste, and discharged four torpedoes against two warships of the Monarch class. All the torpedoes exploded. The battleship Wicn was sunk. Our vessels returned safely, in spito of discharges of torpedoes by enemy and intense gunfire."—Atis.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Rcuter.