ITALY AT WAR

Otago Witness, Issue 3195, 9 June 1915, Page 34

ITALY AT WAR

FIGHTING ON LAND AND SEA

ROME, June 1

Official: One of our dirigibles bombed the railway station, petrol depot, and the arsenal at Pola on Sunday night. A great fire brcko out at the arsenal. The dirigible was subjected to an intense artillery* fire, but escaped uninjured. [Pola is the chief naval port of Austria, in the Adriatic Sea. It is the principal seaport of a portion of the territory Italy is seeking to gain by the war.] Our torpedo boat and destroyer flotilla she Ted the Mcnfalcone dockyard, causing serious damage. Returning from the raid the flotilla destroyed some large sailing vessels laden with flour.

[Mc-nfalcone is a seaport in the Gulf of Trieste, at the head of the Adriatic Sea. It is also one part of the territory Italy regards as her own and is seeking to regain.]

LONDON, June 1

Mr M. H. Donohue, correspondent of the Daily Chronicle, writes: “ From the high plateau at Asiago the Italian heavy guns have reduced several modern Austrian forts to powder. It took three hours only to batler to pieces the armoured fort Luserna. The garrison raised a white flag, whereupon the Austrian fort known as Belvidere enfiladed the surrenderors, killing many. Ultimately the Italians silenced Fort Belvidere and concentrated a terrific fire on Fort Vezena, which is now a heap of ruins. Throughout Saturday the Italians rained shells on the forts along the bank of the Isonzo. It is believed that the enemy’s losses are heavy*. Another Austrian aeroplane has been captured at Rimini.

ROME, June 1

Refugees from Milan report that the Austrians are retreating Trentwards. They destroyed property wholesale on the pretext of military necessity. Houses and factories at Rovereto and Trent were dynamited.

ITALIAN ENTHUSIASM

LONDON, May 31

The Queen of Italy has lent the Red Cross her palaces at the Quirinal (Rome), at Milan, and at Mantua. The Pope has lent a villa.

Many priests are enlisting in the army

Three thousand Italians at Montreal raided the oliice of M. iiourassa’s newspaper La Devoir for publishing the statement that Italy had gone to war for selfiish reasons. The police dispersed them.

[Bourassa is a French-Canadian and a Separationist, whose motto is “ Canada for the Canadians.”]

FAMINE IN TRIESTE

ROME, June 1

The population of Trieste is almost without food. One hundred thousand have disappeared. Many have fled into Italy, but the bulk have been sent into camps in the interior of Austria. BUCHAREST, June 1.

Fifty thousand Rumanians demonstrated in favour of Italy before the Italian Legation.

THE FORWARD MOVEMENT.

FRONT SOLIDLY ESTABLISHED. ROME, June 1

Official : We occupied Gonizugna, an important height northward of Ala, dominating Roveredo. Our front is solidly established on both slopes of Val Sugana, five miles from Borgo.

Our Alpine troops, after repulsing five violent attacks near the Monte Croce Pass, cleared the enemy out of the pass. [Roveredo is on the Adige, 12 miles south of Trent. Borgo is 15 miles east of Trent, in the valley of the Val Sugana. Monte Croce Pass is further eastward.]

Austrian aeroplanes bombed Bari and Brindisi, but did only a little damage. A child was killed at Bari.

[Bari is 70 miles north-west of Brindisi.]

THE ITALIAN OFFENSIVE

IMPORTANT ACTION IN PROGRESS

June 2. The Italians are bombarding Malborghetto, commanding the railway junction at Tarves, and Ultimately (?) on the route to Klagenfurt, via Yillaco. The inhabitants of Gradisca have fled from the town, which is under the fire of the Austrian guns at Monte San Michele, and also the Italian artillery beyond Mossa.

We have destroyed one of the Gorizia forls. Gorizia is the key to the Austrian position covering Trieste.

Official; The enemy were routed westward of the pass from Montecroce to Carnoa, leaving 30 dead and many wounded. An Austrian airship flying the Italian flag damaged the railway bridge at Marechia, near Eiminia.

LONDON, June 2,

Mr M. 11. Donohoe, correspondent of the Daily Chronicle, cables that after a stiff fight of several hours the Italians captured the heights of Conizugua. The Austrians vainly attempted to stem the advance. The Italians charged grimly, and with fine bayonet work routed the Austrians.

AUSTRIAN INTRIGUE. LONDON, June 1

The Italian press comments on Germany’s reasons for not declaring war on Italy, Suggestion is made that Germany fears to cause dissatisfaction in her already sorely demoralised armies. The press declares that Austria has been goading Turkey to declare war against Italy. A postponement of the rupture for a few days would enable many of the Italian Consuls in Turkey to return home safely.

THE KING AT THE FRONT,

LONDON, June 2.

Geneva reports stated that the King of Itaty is taking an active part in the war. During the attack on Montefalco he took charge of the 75-millimetre guns, and fired many shots.

FEELING THE WAY FORWARD.

UNIFORM SUCCESS CHRONICLED LONDON, June 2.

A message from Rome says that the Italian covering troops are feeling their way forward with uniform success in the Trentino, through the Alps, and on the Isonzo River.

It is believed that the first general action will occur on the banks of the Isonzo River. The Italians are consolidating their footing on the right bank, and the Austrians are massing on the left bank. [The Isonzo River flows south from the Julian Alps into the Gulf of Trieste.] - ROME, June 3.

Official: Bad weather is hampering operations. We have occupied Sioro, in the Goudicaria Valley, and are now advancing upon Condino from the head of Laccolama Valley. On the Camia frontier we are harassed by long-distance firing to cover the enemy’s attempt to build a bridge beyond the frontier. We strongly occupy the ridge of Montepero, on the left bank of the Isonzo, 10 kilometres northwest of Tolmino.

LONDON, June 3,

Mr M. H. Donohoe, correspondent of the Daily Chronicle, writes : “In the fighting at the Monte Croce Pass tried Austrian troops attacked five times, advancing afresh over their dead, and five times they w'ere hurled back, broken and disordered, before the infantry fire. The Italians fought a stubborn defensive action, and then dashed forward and routed the enemy.”

THE POPE'S SOVEREIGNTY. LONDON, June 2,

Rome reports state that the Government has resolved to respect the Pope’s sovereignty according to law, and guarantees to inform foreign Powers that representatives may freely reside at Rome, the Government guaranteeing their safety.

GENERAL NEWS

BERLIN, June 2,

The Kreuz Zeitung states that Signor Giolitti, a former Premier, has been forced to fly from Italy, as a plot was afoot to murder him.

LONDON, June 2,

A Milan newspaper declares that the Italians, when capturing Caporetto, found a priest sending wireless messages to the Austrians. He vainly implored the Pope’s intervention on his behalf.

Messages received in Paris state that tumultuous disturbances following Italy’s intervention necessitated the proclamation of a state of siege at Vienna.

Mr M'Kenna and the Governor of the Bank of England will meet the Italian Finance Minister at Nice this week to discuss the financial questions arising out of Italy’s entrance into the war.

ROME, June 3,

The Austrian Court has sentenced to death M. Battista, a deputy for Trent, now acting as a scout in the various passes in Trentino for the Italian Army. Signor Balandra, in a speech at a patriotic meeting, remarked: “What right has von Bethmann-Hoilweg to bespeak respect for treaties when Germany has trampled underfoot and buried at the bottom of the ocean every document or custom of civilisation and international law? The central Powers wore guilty of criminal madness when she shook the world and robbed the Triple Defensive Alliance of its raison d’etre. Both Austria and Germany were forewarned of the far-reaching result of their aggression against Serbia.”

THE ITALIAN ADVANCE. ROME, June 3. The recent air raid on Pola by Italian aviators resulted in the oil fuel reservoir being set on fire. The Austrians, unable to save it, opened the valves and allowed the oil to run into the sea. This loss of fuel is crippling the submarine and torpedo craft of the enemy. The Italians have reduced Fort Belvidere, south-east of Trent. The Italians’ hold on Monte Croce endangers the Austrian possession of the Drave Valley, and large Austrian forces are now approaching with a view to expelling the invaders. The Italian advance guard is now within sight of Trieste, after moving along the coast supported by the Italian navy.

Ten Italians were shot at Innsbruck, without trial, for espionage. The whole of the Italian population in the Tyrol are being cruelly treated. Official: Twenty-four hours after the recent bombardment of Montfalcone flames and smoke were seeii rising from the town. BERNE, June 4.

The Bersaglieri, by a brilliant bayonet charge, stormed Montenegro (?), driving the Austrians down the mountain side. The enemy, being reinforced, counter-attacked, but -were repulsed with heavy loss.

CIVIL RIOTS AT TRIESTE. PARIS, June 3

Le Petit Journal’s Rome correspondent says that the civil population of Trieste are revolting, and 50G0 have been imprisoned. The Austrian troops fired on the rioters, killing and wounding many.

KAISER TO THE FRONT. PARIS, June 3. Geneva reports state that the Kaiser is going to the Austro-Italian frontier.

WHY ITALY FOUGHT,

ROME, June 3

The Premier (Signor Salandra), in his speech at-Rome, said that Austria and Germany believed till the last that they had to deal with a weak Italy, who was blustering, but not capable of acting; trying to blackmail, but not capable of enforcing her rights by force of arms. Austria’s continued suspicious and aggressive intentions against Italy were notorious. Von Hotzendorff (Chief of the Austrian General Staff) always maintained th.it war was inevitable, either because of the question of the Irridentist provinces (Trentino and the Adriatic coast), or because Italy was opposed to Austria’s wishes in the Balkans. Therefore it was necessary to humiliate her in order that Austria should have her hands free.

Austria’s offer of May last was not made in good faith; moreover, it in no way secured Italy’s* military frontier, replacing that which Austria imposed in 1866, which left all the gates to Italy open to Italy’s enemies. In case of a dispute after the war Italy was asked to address herself to Germany. He did not wish to be disrespectful to Germany, but her dream of a universal hegemony was shattered. The world had risen, and the future of humanity must be founded upon respect for existing national autonomies. Among these Germany would have to sit as an equal, and not as a master.

The commonplace statesmen who in rash frivolity last July set fire to the whole of Europe were now making a fresh colossal mistake. They were pouring forth invective atrainst Italy with the obvious design of intoxicating their citizens with cni el visions of hatred and the blood of the Italians. He could not imitate their language. Austria and Germany had continually paralysed the Italian navy in the ItaloTurkish war hv preventing its action against the Dardanelles, European Turkey, and the rEgean Islands. Many Italian

lives and millions of pounds of Italian treasure had been sacrificed to the fact that Turkey was protected by Germany and Austria from all attacks on her vital parts. i