AUSTRIA'S ITALIAN BLOW

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 127, 30 May 1916, Page 7

AUSTRIA'S ITALIAN BLOW

ITALIANS FALL BACK AT

ARSIERO

SITUATION SATISFACTORY! ON

THE WINGS.

■ . , ROME, 29th May. The Austrians have scored a substantial success on their centre, inasmuch as the Italians have abandoned their main lino from the -Arsiero to the Asiago Plateau. The Austrians are nearly at Posina, and are closing in upon Arsiero, where, they claim to have captured an armoured work on the northern outskirts.

Italy's situation on the wings, howaver, is very satisfactory. The Austrians suffered terrible losses in their attacks on the Italian left wing, especially at Zugna Torta and Coni Zugna. Th© Austrians are utilising fifteen divisions for their offensive, on a front of fifty miles, be-, fcween Lake Garda and the Brenta. The nature of the country does not permit of a continuous line of trenches similar to those at Verdun. The chief handicap to the Anstrians is the. lack of railways and good roads. Arsiero is deserted, but intact. The population in the Vicenza district is calm and confident. The Italian isoldiers are massing everywhere.