AUSTRIAN ATTACKS REPULSED WITH HEAVY LOSSES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 245, 4 July 1918, Page 5

AUSTRIAN ATTACKS REPULSED WITH HEAVY LOSSES

THE ITALIAN SUCCESSES NEAR MONTE GRAPPA

OVER 500 PRISONERS AND MUCH BOOTY

By Tolejraph-Press Association-Copyright, i (Rec. July 3, 8.10 p.m.) • London, July '2. An Italian official report, states: "Our artillery firo crushed new enemy attacks on tho Asiago Platenu, jnfiictingjc heavy Wses. Our operations iri the north-western region oi' Monte Grappa yielded important positions), Sli'j prisoners and many machine-guns. We captured on Monto. di Val Bella, the Col do .Rosso, and tho Col de Cuelo, four guns, fifteen trench mortars, fifty-seven' machine-guns, and- thousands of rides."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Router.

London, July 2. A semiofficial Italian report states: "Tho recapture of Monto <li Val Bella, tho Col del_Rosso, and.the Col di Chelo wrested from Urn Austrians the last of (heir gains. On the Asiago plateau the first day's offensive completely restored tho eituation as it whs prior to (lie great attack. Theso positions were constantly contested throughout this year's campaign, becauso they constitute the r.dranced flank of tho Italians and- a jumping-off ground for the 'Austrians wishing to.scalo the Italian positions. Tho victory was duo to tho perfect co-operation o( the artillery and infantry, wjiich reduced tho Italian losses to a minimum, whereas tho fonr enemy divisions engaged had exceptionally heavy losses."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. POLICY OF SUCCESSFUL NIBBLING London, July 2. Mr. Ward Prico writes: "The Italians avo steadily plucking back isolated fragments of tho mountain liuo remaining in Austrian hands. The ferocity of the fighting for Monto di Val Bella showed that the onemy was awnro of tho value of tho positions he was relinquishing, and threw in heavy mosses of troops from the best regiments in trying to retain them. Tho prisoners taken belong to' four divisions. Tho gaps mado in tho Italian ranks sinco tlio Piavo counterattack have now l;cen refilled. 'lhero is a general feeling that only one act of the.new drama has been played. The course of the next is uncertain, and depends partly on the enemy's plans in Franco. Tho continued delay in the offensive thero may mean that German troops are comiug to Italy. , '—"Tho Timed." GERMAN GENERAL TO COMMAND ON AUSTRIAN FRONT (Rec. July i, 0.55 a.m.) London, July 3. Tho Gorman General Otto von Below has been-appointed to the supreme command of tho Austrians in Italy.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. CZECH PRISONERS HANGED BY THE AUSTRIANS Borne, July 2. The "Neue Freie Presse" boasts that three hundred Czechs, including a captain, who were captured in tho fighting with tho Italians at Montello, were summarily hanged.—Reuter. TERRIBLE REPRISALS THREATENED. Tokio, July 2. Colonel Hurban, the Czech leader, states that the Czech forces in Siberia have two hundred thousand Germans at their morcy, and will exact terrible reprisals if the Austrian outrages in Italy continue.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.