THE ITALIAN FROMTIER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16928, 14 February 1917, Page 5

THE ITALIAN FROMTIER.

FURIOUS HAND-TO-HAND FIGHTING. HEAVY AUSTRIAN LOSSES. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. ROME, February 12. H Messagero states that the Austrian attack began in brilliant moonlight at 3 a.m. along a five-kilometre front between San Marco and Santa Caterina. The Italian defenders evacuated their front trenches, and within half an hour delivered massed counter-attacks with the bayonet. The majority of those manning the Austrian trenches were killed in furious hand-to-hand fighting, which lasted till dawn. The Austrians employed picked troops, but the Italian losses were comparatively slight.

ITALIAN COMMUNIQUE. GOEIZIA LINES RE-ESTABLISHED. Admiralty, per Wireless Press. LONDON, February 12. (Received Feb. 13. at 5.5 p.m.) An Italian official re/port states : We reached Tarvis station and repulsed an attack in the Vadel zone after violent hand-to-hand fighting. The survivors were captured. We re-established oirr lines east of Gorizia and repulsed the enemy, with serious losers

TURKEY'S SUFFERINGS. THE BULGARIANS TIRED. Tho Times. AMSTERDAM, February 12. A neutral resident from Constantinople stato3 that the Russian bombardment of Tugal out off the coal supply of the Turkish fleet and destrojred four merchantmen. The only coal supply tli at remains is from the Bosphorus, which is shut off. Foreign trajde is at a standstill. The Germans are unable to repair the Goeben, which is docked. The Breslau is still afloat, also some torpedo-boats and submai'ines. Meat, bread, and sugar cards haive been introduced. The Turks resent this as a German innovation. Swindlers are sending Government stores to Germany. No fish is procurable. Sugar is 8s per lb and tea 40s per lb, and boots are 60s a pair

The feeling of the people is strongly anti-G"rrnan, though they are afraid to show it. The Times correspondent at Salonikastates that the Bulgarian? know that the German strength is ebbing. The Bulbars recentlv hoisted this rfin in th? trenches : " German troops are retiring. Wb.cn they have gone we will join you."