THE ITALIAN FRONT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17092, 25 August 1917, Page 7

THE ITALIAN FRONT

PROGRESS ON JULIAN" FRONT. OYER SIXTEEN THOUSAND PRISONERS. Australian end N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter. Admiralty, per Wireless Press. ROME, August 23. Italian official: We progressed both in the north and the south on the Julian front. Our troops, repulsing counter-at-tacks, carried positions south-eastward of Dossofaiti. < Oar prisoners total 16,000 men and 350 officers, up to yesterday. Oar aeroplanes and airships have dropped 12 tons of bombs on the enemy. REINFORCED ASSAULTS' BY ITALIANS. ENEMY RETIRING. Renter's Telegrams. . ROME, August 23. The Italian offensive has forced the Austrians to obtain reinforcements from the eastern i front, comprising 12 divisions, mainly recent arrivals from Ga.licia. After nine counter-attacks had been repulsed near Korite (on the Carso Plateau), the Italians took the offensive, capturing an entire regiment. Another brigade assaulted Hills 231 and 247 at least seven fames, and took prisoner, some thousands. The following morning they proceeded to assault the strong lines before Selo, despite a determined resistance. The enemy have abandoned almost their entire first line, from the plateau (? Tolmino) to the sea, on a front of 60 kilometres (37 miles). Prisoners are still coming in. FEROCIOUS STRUGGLE. AUSTRIAN DIVISION SMASHED. TREACHERY PUNISHED. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. ' . ROME, August 24. (Received Aug. 25, at 0.30 a.m.) Several Austrian divisions on the CaTso Plateau are bo badly shattered that they have been withdrawn from the firing line. The fighting around Hermada was marked by incredible ferocity. An Austrian reserve division on the third day of the struggle was thrown in in an effort to break the Italian iron ring. The airmen signalled their presence, and suddenly 400 Italian guns opened a terrific and accurate fire, scattering the division like chaff.

An Austrian' detachment in the Selo sector, wearing Italianf uniforms, got near the Italians with 100 machine guns,, but the trick was discovered and all theiinen annihilated.

British and Italian naval guns are largely instrumental in piercing the defence at Carso. .Northward the Italian front is being methodically advanced along the entire line

H Seccolo states that Herrnada is completely invested by land and sea, and is undergoing most intense attacks.