TRIESTE.

Evening Star, Issue 16263, 4 November 1916, Page 4

TRIESTE.

HEAVY CARSO FIGHTING. AUSTRIAN DEFENCE CRUMBLING. ROME, November 2. Austrian messages report that) a threedays' Italian bombardment of ii::heard-of Violence, from tlio east of Gorizia to the Sea, destroyed the Austrian defences. The Austrians have brought up ah their reserves, withdrawing all the forces available from the Trentino and all the garrisons in the neighboring towns. The population of Trieste has been reduced to a few officials and military workers. Australian and JN'.Z. Cable Association and Reuter. LONDON, November 3. An Austrian official message states that the. second and third Ita.lian armies, which ■were brought up to full strength with A'resh troops since the last big battles, opened an offensive in the Gorizia region. The message describes the Italian artillery fire as being of extraordinary violenco. After it the Italian infantry assaulted in massed formations. Seven brigades at one point advanced over a narrow front. / The message claims that several attacks ■ were repulsed, but admits that th? Italians in tho northern part of the Carso gained ground beyond the Austrian advanced ruined lines, while Corsica (?Voscica) remained in Italiiin hands after beintr attacked by eight divisions. o • ib ■ . m. RCME > November 3. tvemi-otticial: The Austrian positions eact of Gorizia are on tho summits of,ste?p Elopes, intercepted bv ravine* and covered • woods, while the defences on the Carso, besides ruined villages, include numerous bcilndary vails. The principal line of resistance the Careo has been carried bv the Italians, who advanced over two kito"metres of thickly-wooded ground up the elope. Besides taking 5.000 prisoners, we inflicted- meet lieavf losses. As an infitr.nce, fhe 21st Landwehr Regiment was viped out. with its staff. Three battalion wmmanders and 1,500 men were captured. Italian airships dropped bombs on snemy works and on vessels in the San Pietro roadstead and Sebenico Bay. All returned safely, despite a desperate cannonade from the eliore batteries.