TREMENDOUS BOMBARDMENT

Nelson Evening Mail, 25 May 1916, Page 5

TREMENDOUS BOMBARDMENT

EFFECTIVE COUNTER OFFENSIVE EXPECTED.

LONDON, May 22.

Austria's offensive in the Tyrol was precfeded by a tremendous artillery bombardment. By extraordinary' exertions the enemy brought tip huge howitzers through the .mountain -passes. The vicinity of Rovereto is this, scene of the heaviest' fighting. "One hundred thousand Austrians were; massed fox* the attack. They wort, at the bloodiest * cost-, the- first Italian • lines Jaiid Zugna Torta, an strategical position overlooking the main. road* to Verona, and Vicenza. - Although General Cadorna'a ;troops here have been withdrawn to positions in the' rear, it is not to be expected , that the Austrians will be able to follow up their first. success in" this "most difficult country. in- order -to threaten the ipaiiiItalian Army on the Isonzo. • It is confidently ' Ibelieved that General Cadorna's fine genex*aMiip will make an effective counter-stroke at . .the proper moment. It is believed that the Austrian offensive was politically inspired in order to quell the widespread: and popular disaffection over the shortage of food, the high prices, and the depression regarding the outcome "of the war.

Reports Rome state that the Italians are rallying- splendidly, and are holding firmly on both -wings. It is believed that 300,000 fresh troops niid rn enopnous number of guns have baen brought up for the offensive. The Austrians are continually attacking, and are freely • using poison gas.