THE ITALIAN FRONT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17090, 23 August 1917, Page 5

THE ITALIAN FRONT

ENEMY DEFENCES CAPTURED,

PRISONERS EXCEED TEN THOUSAND.

High Commissioner's Cable.

LONDON, August 21. Italian official report: the well-organ-ised enemy defences between Korito and Selo, near the fortress of Starilokva, have been captured, with over 10,000 prisoners.

STRONG ENEMY FORCES BEATEN,

SPLENDID RUSHES BY ITALIANS.

PROSPECTS BRIGHT.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association,

LONDON, August 21. (Received Aug. 22, at 10.15 p.m.) The Daily Chronicle's correspondent on the Italian front states that on crossing the Isonzo the Italians found the Austrians in strength and their organisation of the ground technically perfect. There were machine guns in a dozen points of attack, and the problem was one of machine guns playing like hoses across the front of the advancing Italians until late- in the afternoon. Big trench mortars accounted for a proportion, but the rest had to be rushed and bombed to silence.

A German, speaking Austrian, was among the first prisoners, who were utterly wearied and prostrated by a 30-hours' tornado of shells.

The final convulsion of the battle' took place when the Italians stormed uphill. The bombers leading and the bayonets following with the greatest dash gave Italy's reply to the latest peace proposals. The oflensivo is developing on a front of 100 kilometres, with every prospect of the capture of Monte Santo and Hermada Hill, paving the way to Trieste.

STRUGGLE ON CARSO PLATEAU. ENEMY LINE GIVING WAY. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter. Admiralty, per Wireless Press. LONDON. August 21. (Received Aug. 22, at 10.15 p.m.) An Italian official message says: The battle on the Julian front is proceeding. Our troops on the extreme right, despite an undiminished resistance, are advancing supported by floating and fixed batteries and monitors.

The struggle continues on the Carso Plateau and the coastal zone. The enemy's line is beginning to bend and give way at various points. We carried the defences between Corite and Selo.

Our aeroplanes flying over the battlefield bombed moving troops. Up till Monday evening we captured 10,103 men and 243 officers. We destroyed a storming party in the Lag&ria Valley, and a counter-at-tack drove back the enemy south-east of Monte Maio.

AUSTRIAN LOSSES. ALREADY 30,000. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, August 22. (Received Aug. 23, at 0.55 a.m.) The Daily Mail states_ that on the Italian front the Austrian losses are already 30,000.