ITALY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 27, 1 February 1918, Page 5

ITALY

SUCCESSFUL OFFENSIVE IMPORTANT POSITIONS CAPTURED. (Australian and N.Z. Gable Association and Routor.) LONDON, Jan. 30. An Italian official report says :—We captured the Col del Rosso and the Col de Chele on Monday, and withstood numerous counter-attacks. We captured! Monte De Val Bella yesterday, and almost completely destroyed two enemy divisions. We have captured hitherto 100 officers and 2500 men, besides. six guns, 100 machine guns, numerous trench mortars, and several thousand rifles. We 'brought down 17 aeroplanes in two davs.

EMtfrilY SURPRISED AN ITALIAN NIGHT AtrTACK. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association <Rec. Feb. 1. 9 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 31. An Italian semi-official account states that violent artillerying preceding the Asiago operations, revealed 50 new enemy batteries. Nevertheless our infantry surprised the enemy in the bright moonlight and in the early morning of Monday we captured Ohiesa di San Francisco. The Col del (Rossa was lost and regained. Then, after a stubborn fight, the struggle for Cima di Valbella fluctuated, but the position remained firmly in our hands.

ITALIAN LINE IMPROVED. .'Reuter's ielejirams.) PARIS, Jan. 30. A semi-official report states that the success yesterday following on the recent French advance at Monte Toanba has greatly improved the line guardiiij the Venetian Plains. A GERMAN REPORT. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association) and Router.) (Admiralty per VV irelesa Press, j LONDON, Jan. 30. A German communique says : "Strong Italian forces maintained the attacks on Asiago Plateau. We gave up Monte De Val Bella and the Col del Rosso after severe fighting." FRATERNISING ON THE FRONT CURIOUS RESULT OF THE ARMISTICE. LONDON, Jan. 15. Mr Ward Price, official press representative in Italy, states that th 6 Austrians from the Russian front, who have been taken prisoner, paint a curious picture of the results of the armistice. Bazaars are erected between the lines, where soldiers and civilians of both sides mingle freely in the daytime. The Germans sell cheap manufactures- and drinks, for which the Russians exchange foodstuffs. The Russians "are a disorganised rabble, and are not permitted to enter the German lines. The Germans, on the other hand, are strictly disciplined, and return to their trenches at nightfall They shoot if the Russians approach. THe officers freely spy in Russian territory. Enemy prisoners and deserters on the Italian front are often terribly exhausted, filthy, and brutelike, owilTg to their hardships and extreme cold. After days of warmth feeding they speak freely.

BRirASTTSFORESTS PLANTING POLICY URGED. IX)NDON, Jan. 9. The committee dealing wit a forestry in Great Britain has issued its final report. It directs attention to the fact that Great Britain was poorer in timber at the outbreak of waT than any European country except Portugal. One of the surprises of the war has been the enormous military consumption of timber, and the scarcity of shipping has raised difficulties. Therefore the com'mittee recommends that in order to make Great Britain independent of imported timber for three years in the event of an emergency, the country must reafforest 1,770,000 acres. It advises the State to plant 150,000 acres for the first ten years and to assist public bodies and individuals to plant another 50,000 acres. AUSTRALIA. ASSISTED PASSAGES FOR SOLDIERS' WIVES. SYDNEY, Jan. 31. Mr Holman has instructed Sir Charles Wade to extend the benefit of assisted passages to the wives of soldiers who have married in Britain desiring to emigrate. Sir Charles Wade states that 2000 marriages have been solemnised recently, averaging 800 a month. AUSTRALIAN CASUALTIES. (Rec. 11.40 a.m.) MELBOURNE, This Day. Australian casualties to date total 227,851, including 43,395 dead, 114,717 wounded, and 66,362 eick. ,

I THIRD LONDON AIR RAID ! THREE KILLED AND TEN I INJLPiEi).. 1 'Australian and N.Z. "dable Association and Reuter.) ' LONDON, Jan. 30. The Press Bureau states that three persons were killed and ten injured in ; last night's air raid. It is feareii that six otiier Jnod ; e- buried in the wreckage ot a he 115,6 DISTRESSING OCCURRENCE. ! SEVEN MEMBERS OF SOLDIER'S | FAMLLY KILLED. ■ (Australian and N.Z. Cable A°sOGiation) fßee. Feb. 1. 12.40 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 31. ! A hi- Tuesday's raid in a London c'iL:n b instantly killed seven members 01 a soldier's family. | GER3TAN OFFICIAL REPORT. ! j (Australian and N.Z. Gable .Association) j and Reuter.) (Admiralty per Wireless Press.j LOISDOV Jan. 30. A German official message says:— "Our aviators successfully bombed London, Southend, X'ur-kirU. olid Calais." AIR RAID ON PARIS .SEVERAL DEATHS REPORTED. (Australian and N.Z. Cable As*»ciation (Rec. Feb. 1, 0 a.m.) PARIS, Jan. 31. 'German aeroplanes bombarded "Paris causing several deaths. NOW-FEBROUsIfIfcTALS BILL SECOND READING IN HOUSE OF LORDS. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association) (jßec. LONDON, Jan. 31. The House of Lords read a. second time the Non-Ferrous Metal Bill.. (The President of the Board of Trade •i- Albert H. Stanley), in moving the second reading of the Non-Ferrous Metal Industry Bill in the House of Commons on the 3rd inst., said: "Ever since the Paris Economic Conference the Government har been in consultation with the Dominions and the French Government for the purpose of giving practical effect to the conference's resolutions, imposing upon, the Allied Governments the duty of mak- * ~'tneir countries independent of their enemies in regard to essential commodities. We have succeeded, owing td th" e war, in freeing ourselves from Germany's stranglehold, and it is necessary to prevent German interests 'ever again obtaining a death grasp upon our vital industries which control of metals before the war gave them, particularly in regard" to spelter, lead, coppeT, aluminium, and tin.Owing to this German' dominance we suffered great embarrassment at the outbreak of war. This Bill provides that, it shall be unlawful for any company, firm, or individual to carry on the business of extracting, smelting, dressing, and refining, or wholesale trading in. the metals ot metallic ores to which the Bill applies, except under license. The license will be rescinded if, later on, it is proved that one-fifth of the capital directly or indirectly belongs to a German syndicate. The Board of Trade is empowered to require certain information anil inspect books. , The Bill will remain in operation for five years after the war. It is not drafted in the interests of traders, but is de- . Ned in the national interests." CHINESE FjGHTmG TROOFS FIRST UNITS BEING TRANSPORTED TO FRANCE. . , 1 . ?. j (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association) S (Rec. Feb. 1, 11.40 a.m.) i , r > WASHINGTON, Jan, 31: advices from Pekin state I that China is transporting the first fighting ; units to France. j THE DARDANELLES ACTIO]*;" 0 ' j BRITISH CASUALTIES. \ : I LONDOIN", Jan. j 3o.' t In the House of Commons, Dr. Mac? ' namara (Under-Secretary to the Admiralty) announced that six officers and 127 men were killed and 27 men were wounded in the Dardanelles action. WHAT THE GEEMANS INTENDED

f A DASH FOR THE PIRAEUS. TO JOIN ROYALISTS. (Austraiisn and N.Z Cable Association* (Rec. Feb. 1, 11.40 a.m.) ATHENS, Jan. 31. Survivors of the Breslau state that they came out of the Dardanelles in order to make a dash for The Piraeus, believing that a rising of Royalists 1 i had. been arranged. BRITISH 61ENERAL STAFF. NEWSPAPER CRITICISM. | LONDON, Jan. 21. The Daily Mail's attacks, on the Geo- ! eral Staff "lia.ve brought the question of I the reorganisation' of the superiqr ap- ! pointments into acute prominence. Mr ; Lovat Fraser in the Mail asserts that the Passchendaele 'battles "were the Bri- | tish Verdun, despite the heroism of undaunted soldiers. He adds: 1 'The German Verdun resulted in General Falkenhayn's dispatch to obscurity in the wilds of Asia." The Daily Express states that the sudden and violent outbreak of feeling against the exclusion of new men from high commands has been_ a feature of the week. Liberal Ministers, headed by Mr Fisher, are leading a revolt against • the old regime. The Pall Mall Gazette regards failure as. due to the restriction of staff appointments to professional soldiers whom Mr Garvin describes as the closest trades-union in the world, but the Morning Post asserts that over half the appointments have already been given to Territorials and officers in the new armv. ; The Weekly Dispatch states that a i crisis has developed between Lord ; Derby and Sir William Robertson ow- ' to the latter's eccentricities, and autocratic powers. | Forecasting V>rd Derby's resignation, the Westminster Gazette remarks that attacks hav e been ministerially inj spired. ! The Star says that apparently Sir : Douglas Haig aind Sir William Robertson, like Admiral Jellicoe, are t-o be "bynged" without bloodshed, the re- . ferPnce being to Admiral Byng's end. j N.S.W. LOAN. | (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association j (Rec. Feb. 1, 1.45 p.m.) ifcONDON, Jan 31. Th a New iSouth Wales Government is frpuin-jc a large new Ic.tn at par bearing interest. r\ the rate of five per cent.

EXPORT PROHIBITIONS. LINITHD pKESS A frSOCIAXIOK.) W.ELLIING-TON, Jan. 31. , The Gazette states that the exportation of live pigs all manures is prohibited, except with the consent of the Minister of Customs.