ENEMY ADVANCES THREE MILES

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10002, 20 June 1918, Page 5

ENEMY ADVANCES THREE MILES

ON FIFTEEN MILE FRONT MONTELLO HEIGHTS CAPTURED By Telegraph-- Press Assnoistk-n — Copyright. Reuter’s Telegrams. . VANCOUVER, Juno 18. ine Austrians have reached the Italian second line to a depth of three miles on fifteen. miles of front between Zonson and the Adriatic, in a thrust towards Venice... The enemy states that he has captured SOXJOO prisoners and has reached the Fossetta Canal. ‘trca of this attack is the region north-east of the lagoons of Venice, iho battler front is about 15 miles from Venice. (Received June 19, 9.30 p.m.) ! , LONDON, Juno 18, 5.30 p.m. the Austrians hare gamed Montello Heights. DIN OF BATTLE NOW LOUDEST ON PIAVE Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received June 19, 9.15 p.m. rp, . , . : ROME, June 18. Ine din of battle is now loudest -on the Piave, having lessened on the mountain front where! the enemy, losses wore stupendous. " Along a twentyJV.® between Valdassa and Mont Tomba the Austrians lost fully a *their storm troops, which were left strewn on the greiund before the withdrawal to the enemy’s original entrenchments. No fewer than nine desperate assaults at Mount Grappa, always with fresh reserves, failed before the enemy desisted. The craggy slopes ware black with corpses and littered with broken machine-guns and rifles. ITALIANS MAKE SUCCESSFUL DRIVES Ti \ LONDON, June 18. 1 be,ltalian evening communique states The enemy on the 17th did not renew his infantry attacks. In the mountains and on the Montello front, our troops made successful drives, and occupied a number of positions, capturing maehme-gTins and some hundreds of prisoners. Important actions developed south of Montello and along the Piave in the zone between Zeuson and Fossetta, but the enemy everywhere was stopped by our counter-attacks and abandoned several hundred prisoners. Attempts .to cross the river between Maaorada and Oandelu were bloodily repulsed. Other counter-attacks, which are now developing on the lower Piave, assure us of advantages. FAILURE OF AUSTRIAN OFFENSIVE _ „ , . . , LONDON, June 18. Ihe French press is satisfied that the Austrian offensive is a failure. ■. British and French military critics are of oponioa that the Italian situation is excellent. The battle in the mountains in Northern Italy is dying down, but is fiercer towards the sea. The Italian Command is satisfied it is able to hold the enemy. J The principal battle is;raging for the Montello crest, which is crossed from north to south by a number of roads, which, if taken, will enable the Austrians to dominate from the flank the rear of the Italian positions on the Piave. DANGER POINT EXISTS AT MONTELLO (Received June 19, 8.55 pun.) LONDON, June 18. A correspondent reports that the present position on the Italian front is as follows:—The Austrians reached the right hank of the* Piave from the Ooneglianp railwa-yi.to the.Zenson Bend, advancing about a.mile • The Austrians reached the second Italian line on a three-mile front hetweetu Zeuson and the sea. They have thrown fourteen bridges across the Piave, and secured two-thirds of! the rising, ground near Moutello. Otherwise they have made no progress since Monday. The Austrians are apparently trying to link up two bridgeheads on the Piave front. Already the Austrians have used thirty-three divisions in the attack, including a division of dismounted' cavalry. The eneflny and the Piave bridges are being incessantly bombed and raked by machine-guns frota aeroplanes. The Italian Command feels comfortable about the present position, except that of Montello. Plenty of reserves are available. Danger certainly exists regarding Montello, but the position is not extremely serious. The Austrians advanced four miles very slowly. t The British front is almost intact. The Austrian losses are heavy. They could have progressed further if they had seriously desired to do so. Their lack of persistence is probably duo to disaffection. There is certainly some demoralisation. AUSTRIAN POSITION ON PIAVE INSECURE Reuter’s Telegram. (Received Juno 19, 11.45 p.m.) LONDON, June 18. Reuter’s correspondent at Italian Headquarters points out that unless thc_ Austrians can. establish bridgeheads whore they crossed the Piave and got their guns over; especially on to the small section of Montello which they hold, probably the Only result of the crossing will be that they will become prisoners. ENEMY LOSSES SIX TIMES GREATER THAN BRITISH Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. . , ~ „ LONDON, June 18. A correspondent on the Italian front states that the enemy’s losses ou the British sector were nearly six times as heavy as the British. The general result might suggest a highly successful British assault. Captured docu-‘ meats show that the Austrians hoped on Sunday to secure the heights commanding the whole of the Astico Valley. .... , ; PARIS, June 18. The latest news indicates that the enemy positions on the Montello Hill and at Santa Dona are exposed to concentrated Italian fire, and will soon he untenable unless they arc) supported by a general advance ou the Piave front.

ZEEBHUGBE Will BLOCKED EFFORTS TO OPEN CHANNEL FAIL. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received Juno 19, 11.30 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, Juno 19. Roado and Coward, British aviators, were bombing Zeehruggo, when, their motor failed. The oil tank leaked; but they managed to roach Holland, where they wore interned. They state that Zoebrugge is completely blocked. The Gormans work night and, day to clear the passage, but the British nightly demolish the work done. Tho Gormans are afraid to blow up tho cement-filled ships, lost they also blow up tho sluices. No submarines can enter hr leave The blockage of (Mend is not complete, but is giving tho Germans the greatest trouble. A GULANT SYDNEY SOLDIER LOSES HIS LIFE IN SAVING A CHILD. g Australian and N.Z, Cable* Association. (Received June 19, 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, Juno 19. An inquest at Southampton revealed that Lance-Corporal Ernest Poole, of Sydney, dived from a breakwater in France in order to save a child, Ho was too modest to mention the case when taken to tho hospital suffering from dislocation of tho spine. Bronchitis was the result of the dive. Tho jury expressed admiration of Poole’s gallantry. Braces of strength and oomfort—"President/’ 3s 6dj "Police," 2s 3d: other makes. Is 9d to 4s lid. Goo. Fowlds, Ltd., Manners street.

CHANGES IN NAVY OFFICE Australian and N.Z, Cable Association. (Received Juno 19, 11.30 p.m.) , LONDON, Juno 19. Captain Bartholomo replaces RearAdmiral Halsey as Third Sea Lord., and Mr R. S. Homo replaces Allan Anderson ae Controller. SEAMEN'S UNION DELEGATES ORDERED TO LEAVE SWEDEN. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received Juno 19, 5.5 p.m.) CHRISTIANIA, Juno 18. Captain Tuppor and Chambers, the Seamen’s Union delegates, after a successful conference at Copenhagen arranged to go to Sweden to confer witl\ Swedish seamen in reference to international federation. On arrival at Gothenburg they wore ordered to leave Sweden by the next train. AUSTRIAN POLITICS MINISTERIAL RESIGNATIONS EXPECTED. Router's Telegrams. (Received Juno 20, 12.30 a.m.) AMSTERDAM. Juno 18. It is reliably reported from Vienna that a number of Ministers havo rosolved to resign if the Premier fails to convoke Parliament, or otherwise fails to act Parliamontarily. Better than mixtures or syrups la NAZOL—the money-saving remedy for coughs and colds. Ready for use when bought. No cold is NAZOL-proof. For kiddies—Doctors’ Cream o’ Groats —contains oil the elements to build muscle, nerve. Grocers sell it. a