THE ITALIAN ADVANCE

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 153, 29 June 1916, Page 7

THE ITALIAN ADVANCE

' POSINA AND ARSIERO RECOVERED ENEMY'S VAIN OPPOSITION i The High Commissioner reports :— ' LONDON, 27th June, 7.10 p.m. . The Italian official report states : Between the Adige and the Brenta our advance was continued, in spite of the enemy's attempt to hold us with concentrated artillery and machine-gun fire, and also by rearguard actions, favoured by the difficulty of the ground. In the Vail' Arsa our troops yesterday advanced across strong entrenchments on Matassone and Anghebeni, and completed the conquest of Mount Menerle. • i • Along the Posina line they cleared the enemy off the southern slopes of Mount Aralta. Crossing the torrent they took Posina and Arsiero, thus beginning the adva,nce on the northern side of the valley. On the Sette Comuni Plateau, our infantry, preceded by cavalry patrols, reached the line from Punta Corbin, Tresche, Conca, and Fondi, to Cesuna, south-west of Asiago. On the north-east they crossed the Nos Valley, and occupied Mount Fiara, Mount Taverle, Spetz, Keserle, and Cima delli Saette. On the right our Alpine troops carried the crests of Calelra and Campanella, after much gallant fighting. In the Sugana Valley the .situation is unchanged. In upper Vanoi we occupied Massif Tognola. The High Commissioner reports : — LONDON, 28th. June, 2.10 p.m. Between the Adige and the Brenta, commanding positions, where the defences had been strongly organised, were reached by the enemy, who has largely increased Ms activity in resisting the Italian advance. Nevertheless, considerable progress was made. Between the Lagarina Valley and the Vail' Arsa, an intense shelling of enemy positions took place at Mounts Trappola and Testecolsanto, and resulted in our taking trenches at Malgazugna. Between Posina and the Astico, enemy positions were taken at Mount Gaimondo, northwards of Fusine and Mount Caviojo, the cavalry reaching Pedescala. On the Asiago Plateau and the southern side of Arsa Valley wo reached the slopes of Mount Rasta, Interrotto, and Mossiagh, which were strongly held by the enemy's.rearguards." Further north, after carrying posii tions on Mount Colombara, the Italians began to approach the Calmarara Valley. In tho upper But after intense artillery fire, the Italians advanced, taking redoubts and trenches in the neighbourhood of Freikofel. On the Isonzo, artillery fire, followed by raids, resulted in 353 prisoners and two machine guns being taken.

(Press Association.)