ITALY'S WAR.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17663, 15 December 1917, Page 7

ITALY'S WAR.

THE TEUTON THRUST. ENEMY SUSTAINS SEVERE LOSSES. A. and N.Z. Cable Aeaoointion and HeuUr. LONDON, December 13. An Italian official message "says:— We regained a great part of the. trenches in tho Col Delia Beretta region, which wo were unable to reoccupy on Tuesday. We sanguinarily repulsed two violent attacks -"in the Calcino Valley. .. The enemy attacked in force eastward of the Brenta at midday. The attack continued fiercely throughout the afternoon but eased at night, owing to heavy enemy losses. A powerful attack on the Col di Papaeya broke down.

ENEMY MASSING FORCES. Keuter's 'Telegrams. (Received December 14, 7.55 p.m.) LONDON, December 13. Reuter's correspondent at Italian headquarters says:—The enemy continues to mass troops and artillery in Trentino, especially on both sides of the Brenta River. Allied aircraft regularly bombard the Austro-Gennan reinforcements, but fresh fill the gaps. The enemy artillery is overwhelmingly superior and destroyed tho Italian defences. The defenders' casualties were heavy, but they resisted so fiercely that the enemy's losses averaged 50 per cent of his strength.

AUSTRIAN CLAIMS. A. and N.Z. Cable' Association and Rjutcr. (Received December 14, 7.55 p.m.) LONDON, December 13. • A wireless Austrian official message

says:—We took prisoner in four days' fighting in the Meletta region 639 officers, 16,000 men, 293 gMns and 233 ma-chine-guns.