THE ITALIAN FRONT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17039, 25 June 1917, Page 5

THE ITALIAN FRONT.

i I THE LATEST THRUST. AN INCONTESTABLE VICTORY. SECURING DOMINATING POSITIONS. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, June 23. (Received' Juno 24, at 5.5 p.m.) Mr Perci'val Gibbon writes : 'ihe latest Italian attack on the western end of Asiago Plateau aims at driving out the Austrians from commanding heights. The Austrian* for many inunt'iu possessed tho advantage of the highest potations everywhere in the Trentino, and the Italians are invariably attacking uphill. Their success in the uphill thrust on Monte Ortigara was incontestable. The Italians took prisoner 100, and lite-rally quarried them out of the mountain. The Austrians converted precipices into a mighty fortress system, placing batteries on points inaccessible except by rock climbers crawling up the mountain side staple to staple, driven in by Alpini under constant fire. Millions of tons of rock excavated from Austrian galleries are lying in the valleys like huge landslides. The Italians are 'indomitably progressing on the crests which dominate and will eventually neutralise the whole Austrian position in the Assa Valley. AT MOUNT ORTIGARA. ITALIAN CAPTURES. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and lleuter. LONDON, June 23. (Received June 24, at 5.5 p.m.) Italian Official: The enemy concentrated a brisk fire upon our new positions at Monte Ortigara, on the Asiago Plateau. We replied effectively. We captured on the 19th inst. in this area four guns, 14 machine guns, 1000 rifles, and a large quantity of munitions and mining material. ENEMY LOSSES ESTIMATED. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. ROME, June 23. (Received June 24, at 5.5 p.m.) The Messagero states that the Austrians since the 10th inst. have lost over 10,000 men in Trentino.