ITALIAN SUCCESS AGAINST AUSTRIA.

North Otago Times, Volume CVI, Issue 13975, 8 September 1917, Page 6

ITALIAN SUCCESS AGAINST AUSTRIA.

-V"? 4 J-*i- .■ ■ PIERCE STRUGGLE NORTH-EAST OF GORIZIA. AUSTRIANS CLAIM POSSESSION OP ? SAN. GABRIELLE. >. ' : (iuslrfllian and How Zenliinit Cnlilo Association.) \V4r.^:''l LONDON, September 6,' " An Italian official communique says: ; The struggle-north-east. • ofvGarizia continues. "We repulsed repeated attack!?" south of Bresfevvizza Valley and also destroyed enemy posts on the Treii- •' tiiio front.. ' . " • ■ Austrian war correspondents say that Monte San Gabrielle is still held against many massed attacks. The Italians'captured the summit several times, but were thrown back. „ • •

ITALIANS LAUNCHING FIERCE COUNTER-ATTACKS. , / " AUSTRIANS' RECKLESS EXPENDITURE OF MEN. < Australian and New Zealand Oab)». AuooJatlon.) " ' Received September 7, at 8 p.in. ' LONDON, September 7. Mr Percival Gibbon says that the Austrians are counter-attack-ing from a triple-mile line. The defences between Kostanjerica and. the coast is great. East and West of the valley of Brestovizza gives highway for the attackers, while the heavily armed Hermarda slopes run steeply down to the southern end. The Italian line is immediately south of Kos'tanjeviea.xThe Austrians have less advantage. The fighting on level country here is stopped by the dead. Their offensive power has been destroyed. Austrian shock troops made seven unsuccessful attacks. There were but few survivors. The Austrians nqar Ilermada charged down the hill, supported by furious shelling. They entered the Italian lines at two points. The Italian and British gunners pujjip a shrapnel curtain and cut out the reserves. The Italians simultaneously attacked and won back both, and inflicted heavy losses.

TREMENDOUS FIGHTING ON OARSO FRONT. ENEMY LOSSES IN PRISONERS AND CASUALTIES TOTAL HUNDRED AND THIRTY THOUSAND. (Re'iter's Telegrams.) Received September 8, nt 12.35 a.m. -- . . LONDONaAustrian prisoners, on tho Italiau front total 30,000. The enemy's losses since the beginning of tlio offensive are estimated at 120,000.

Mr Percival Gibbon, with the Italians, says that the Austrian attacks 011 the Carso are proceeding on a ten-mile front from Kostanjeviea to the coast, The contour of the ground gives the enemy an advantage, especially in the valley of Bresto vm§, which is a -favourable highway for the assailants. Around Selo the enemy's' shock troops attacked seven times, each breaking against the defence. On the uplands, towards Hermada, the attackers, supported by furious artillery firing entered the Italian positions at two points,on Hill 146, overlooking the marshes at the month of the Timavo. The Anglo-Italian guns therefore set up a barrage, cutting off reinforcements. The Italians counter-attacked and reestablished their positions, the enemy suffering heaviest losses.