ITALY’S CAMPAIGN

Otago Witness, Issue 3212, 6 October 1915, Page 64

ITALY’S CAMPAIGN

HUNGARIANS DEMORALISED. LONDON, September 27. II Corriere della Sera (Milan) learns from Bucharest that the Italian campaign is greatly demoralising the Hungarians, whose new recruits are deserting en masse rather than go to the Italian front. Subjects of Rumanian origin are being sent there instead. MARKED ADVANCE IN THE CARSO. ROME, September 28. A communique states : A surprise advance in the Carso enabled us to make marked progress in the direction of Peteano. There were small engagements favourable to us elsewhere. BATTLESHIP BLOWN UP. AN ADMIRAL KILLED. LONDON, September 29. The Italian battleship Benedetto Brin was blown up at Brindisi. Admiral de Cervin was killed, but 387 men were saved. [The Benedetto Brin was of pre-Dread-nought type, having been completed in 1904. She was of 13,214 tons displacement and 20 knots speed, and mounted four 12in guns, besides four Sin, 12 6in, and smaller quick-firers. Her complement was 720 men.] ROME, September 29. The Benedetto Brin was accidentally blown up in the harbour, with a crew of 720. Only eight officers were saved. The explosion took place in the after-magazine. It is announced that there is no question of a foreign agent being concerned. It is expected that the disaster will hasten the appointment of a new Minister of Marine. Signor Salandra (Prime Minister) has telegraphed to the Due d’Abruzzi, who is commanding the fleet, suggesting that he should immediately ascertain the causes of the disaster, seeking after those responsible without regard to persons, and thus reassure the country in the navy, which ■would welcome the enemy’s blows, but not the immense dangers arising from, perhaps, negligence or slackness, which must be revealed and punished. It is believed that the Benedetto Brin disaster was due to a short circuit. The vessel was severely damaged, but did not sink. SEVERE AUSTRIAN REVERSE. ROME, September 30. A communique states' : We threw back the enemy on the slopes of Monte Nero, above Tolmeno, v/ith heavy losses. AUSTRIANS REPULSE FORCES. AMSTERDAM, October 2. An Austrian communique states; We repulsed strong Italian forces on the southern slopes of Monte Nero with severe losses. FOG RETARDING OPERATIONS. HOME, October 2. A communique states that fogs are retarding operations, though they enabled the infantry to raid and destroy the enemy in the outlying defences. We attacked along the Tolmino front from Menzli Vodil and the heights at Santa Maria and Santa Lucia. Our right wing was unable to maintain its gains, but the left wing held its ground.