WITH THE ITALIANS

Otago Witness, Issue 3215, 27 October 1915, Page 23

WITH THE ITALIANS

GENERAL OFFEMSSVE LONDON, October 23. Though the Balkans campaign is holding the first place in public interest, the sudden renewal of the Italian campaign is being watched with the closest attention and hopefulness. There seems to be no doubt that a general Italian offensive has begun in earnest, and the communiques on both sides devote most of their attention to that. It is clear that the fighting is being conducted with the utmost fury. The official statements emphasise the bloody nature of the struggle. An Austrian communique says: “A general Italian attack on the coastal district began, as expected, after a 50-hours’ violent bombardment. Bitter fighting is in progress at the To!meno bridgehead and the edge of the Doberdo plateau. After a partial success all the attacks broke down, with heavy losses to the enemy. Detachments penetrated the Austrian trenches, hut not a man survived, and when the day closed the field in front of the Austrian positions was covered with Italian dead. There was a particularly bloody struggle at Monte San Michele, furious hand-to-hand encounters taldag place. The enemy losses were heavy.” The Italian version states: ‘‘Our offensive, begun successfully in the Tyrol and Trentino, and extended all along the whole front to the sea, is progressing favourably. After an intense artillery preparation along the whole of the Isonzo front, the Italians attacked strong positions consisting of several lines of trenches covered with extensive entanglement. The Italians dashed forward under a concentrated enemy lire from artillery, machine guns, and rifles, with showers of grenades. The attackers carried at the point of the bayonet a number of important positions in the Monte Nero zone, numerous trenches in the Santa Lucia and Tolmino sector, and at Monte Sabatino and north of Gorizia, and broke the enemy lines at Carso in several places.” COUNTER-ATTACKS REPULSED. ROME, October 24. A communique states : We carried by assault Mount Notic, westward of Lake Gard, thus completing the command of the Ledro Valley. We progressed on the Upper and Middle Isonzo. We repulsed two violent counterattacks. We progressed, after sanguinary fighting, along the whole front at Carso, particularly towards San Martimo del Carso, and captured 3000 men, including 60 officers, also a great quantity of munitions. FURTHER PROGRESS REPORTED. SUCCESS AT SEVERAL POINTS. ROME, October 24. A communique states : We have obtained further successes in the Debro Valley, and are occupying the northern heights dominating the Bezzecca Basin. We repulsed an attack at the outlet of Popena Valley, and completed the occupation of the south-eastern slopes’ of Orzli, repulsing two violent attacks at Ondil. There was determined fighting on both sides all Saturday in the Carso region. Our infantry advanced impetuously, and important positions were captured and recaptured by both sides several times. By the evening we had solidly maintained the progress of onr left wing east of Piteano, and the centre towards Marcottin’s. We took 1000 prisoners and captured three mitrailleuses at Isonzo.