ON THE ITALIAN FRONT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 1016, 19 November 1917, Page 5

ON THE ITALIAN FRONT.

DESPERATE BATTLE RAGING. ITALIANS HOLDING ON BRAVELY. LONDON, Nov. 17. An Italian headquarters correspondent reports that a battle is raging in brilliant weather on ta seventy-five miles front from the mountains to the soil The AustroGermans are pounding the Sctte-Communi plateau with violent attacks similar to those at Verdun, but at shorter intervals, with ever-growing forces. The Italians on Monte Grappa, six thousand feet in height, are withstanding- the enemy waves and preventing his descent on Asiago, Trcvisa and Vicenza. The struggle is the fiercest along (lie Pia/vc. where the Italians by great sacrifices almost reconquered Zendou bend. Percival Leibbon writes: —South of Douadi ami PiLvc, where the enemy crossed tlie Italians broke the irrigation canals and floodid the country to a depth of three feet. The ifttcmy secured Itoats, and is now engaged liy the naval forces on the northern cdg> of the Venetian lagoon. The enemy hits terrible numerical superiority in aircraft. An It alian message stiys t--Wo maintain our line from the Asiago plateau to the Piavo river. Despite intense tire and violent) attacks wo resisted the enemy and countersattacked, taking prisoners and retaining; all our positions. The artillery action continues across the Piave. FIERCE FIGHTING CONTINUES. GERMANS BEATEN BACK AT THE POINT OE THE BAYONET. | Received November 19, 10.50 a.m. 1 _ ROME, Nov. 18. Tl*- enemy is making an effort to break through the Brentu front and cut oft our troops holding the Piave line. They.were | many times-' repulsed at the bayonets’ point, suffering heavily. , , ■ After a terrific bombardment,'lasting all day, the , enemy thrice attacked Mount Ouda recur and also attacked the north slope of .Mount Oornnlla. After six hours lighting cur counter-attack recaptured the position, putting the enemy to flight Our tire broke up the attempt to cross the Piavo in metallic boats. INTER-ALLIED COMMAND WANTED. LONDON, Nov. 17. The Daily Telegraph’s Romo correspondent states that the newspapers .in commenting- on till; new War Council have disclosed a feeling that Italy is unanimously in favour of a strong Inter-Allied command, instead of an Inter-Allied Board of Consultation only. , , ANGLO-FRENCH FORCES POURING IN. LONDON, Nov. 17. Mr Ward Price reports: Each day AngloFrench reinforcements reach Italy in greater numbers. Some of the French troops in order to relieve the congestion on the railways marched across the Alps and through the passes, which were covert'd with snow, thus repeating Napoleon’s achievements. Those already' arrived are taking their appointed places in the Italian scheme of defence. The Frenchmen are delighted with the change of scene, and the Britishers arc in high spirits in their new adventure, singing the latest songs, One might think they were coming to gather the fruits of a ready-made victory, and not to make a desperate effort to help to retrieve a, defeat. The Italians are surprised at the Britishers’ demonstrative cheerfulness, and the towns are receiving them well. The Scotsmen’s kilts arc having the inevitable success.