ITALIAN CAMPAIGN

Otago Witness, Issue 3216, 3 November 1915, Page 70

ITALIAN CAMPAIGN

ENEMY BOMBING CHURCHES. ROME, October 25. Teutonic aeroplanes attacked Venice, and one bomb fell on the Piazzetta of St. Mark’s, but did no damage, though the sculptured ceiling of another church was crushed. The Austrian aeroplanes which bombarded the Church Degli Scalezi damaged the famous paintings by Tintoretto and Paul Veronese Three Austrian aeroplanes renewed their attack on Venice this morning, their bombs wounding several but doing little damage. There is indignation throughout Italy at the barbarous destruction of the Tiepoli priceless ceiling in the Degliscalzi Church. [When Italy entered the war His Holiness the Pope .made representations to the Central European Powers, and received an assurance that churches would not_ be bombed unless it was proved that anti-air-craft guns were established on them.] A French wireless message states that the Austrians continue bombarding Venice from aeroplanes. They have wreaked vengeance upon works of art whose glory belongs to the whole world. October 26. The Pope has asked for details, and intends to protest against) the wanton destruction of churches. BIG ITALIAN OFFENSIVE. LONDON, October 25. Tire Times correspondent at Rome states that a big Italian offensive is now at an important stage, and the reason why Italy is unable to send troops to Salonika is that her whole weight must be behind the blows given during the next few weeks. ROME, October 26. A communique states : We have cap* tured positions in the Adiage zone, completing our hold upon the road from Riva to More, capturing a great quantity of material. We repulsed attacks at Merzli, and carried strong entrenchments in the Plava zone.