A STRATEGIC POINT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 10118, 27 October 1917, Page 5

A STRATEGIC POINT.

WHERE THE ATTACKS FELL. Receilvod October 27, 11.20 a.m. LONDON, Oct, 26. The Daily News' correspondent, recently on the [taliail front, says that the main blows of thei Austro-Gormnn attack fell in the neighboutrhcod of Plezzo and Tolmino, where the Italian advance was least, marked since the Isonzo campaign. They have eodnmenced thus the shortest cut for a raid intmTtalian territory for the purpose of impressing German public opinion. Unfortunately the point south of Tolmino is important strategically, _because. if the enemy push! -down the right bank on the heights to thei water's edge, the recent. Italian gains on the Bainsizza Plateau must be jeopardised. The strip of country skirting the riv-sr lends itself to defence, and General Cadlorna was not surprised, so theTe are good reasons for hoping that General Cadorna wilt soon bring the attackers to a standstill. ITALIAN COMMUNIQUES. WITHDRAWING FROM lUTNSIZZA PLATEAU. Received October 27. 11.30 a.m. LONDON, Get, 26. An Italian official message states: Powerful enemy forces continue the offensive <>n our hft wing on ihe Julian front. We have withdrawn our boundary line between Mount Maggiore and westward of Auzza, and have provided for the evacuation of tli" Bainsizza plateau.

GERMANS CLAIM SUCCESSES. Received October 27, 1.20 p.m. LONDON', Oct. 25. A German wireless message says:—We gained further successes near Flitch, on th;> Tolmino.front, and the number of our prisoners is increasing. GERMANS CLAIM BIG CAPTURES, FIGHTING ON ITALIAN TERRITORY. Received October 27. 1.27 p.m. LONDON, Oct. 26. The northern wing of the Second Italian Army is retiring. Wo are advancing beyond Karfrcit and Rongina, and are already fighting in many places on Italian territory. Our prisoners number 30,000, of whom 700 are officers. The booty includes 200 guns. ENTHUSIASM IN ITALIAN CHAMBER. ROME, Oct. 25. There was an enthusiastic scene in the Chamber of Deputies when the Minister for war (Mr Giardino) called attention to the fact that the Germans had joined the Austrian* in a heavy onslaught, and .said that, the Italian armies were being prepared. The Italian losses in the August, offensive were remarkably small. It was difficult to know whether the Austro-German attack is political or military. Whatever may happen in Russia or elsewhere, the enemy will never tread on our sacred and inviolable soil.