THE ITALIAN FRONT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17425, 20 September 1918, Page 5

THE ITALIAN FRONT

ENEMY DEFENSIVE POSITION RUSHED. ENORMOUS DIFFICULTIES OVERCOME. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, September 17. Mr Ward l'rice reports from Italian Headquarters: — On either side of the precipitous gorge of the Brenta River, where it leaves the Austrian and enters the Italian lines, there is a formidable system of wire entanglements filling the whole valley. Half of tli is system of wire is under the water of the rushing stream or on the walls of (< the steep rock cliffs, which are also honey- ] ( combed with machine-gun posts. t The Italian infantry at daybreak rushed G this whole defensive system, taking pri- C soner 350 Austrians after a short, fierce n fight in the dark ravine. t. The Italians also took 300 prisoners in t a raid on Monte Grappa (five miles fur- h ther east). j] t: AUSTRIAN CLAIM. r a ITALIAN ATTACKS REPULSED. h d Admiralty, per Wireless Press. a LONDON, September 18. f (Received Sept. 1-9, at 7.45 p.m.) Austrian official : 'The Italians stormed *5 Tasson Ridge, in the Monte Pertica region, five times, but wore driven back each c time after bitter fighting. 0 THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER. * , c AUSTRIAN ATTACKS REPULSED. * Admiralty, per Wireless Press. ' LONDON, September 18. t (Received Sept. 19, at 9.45 p.m.) Italian official: We repulsed repeated thrusts' against our defences at the head of Seren Valley, northward of Monte Grappa, inflicting heavy losses.