THE ITALIAN FRONT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3334, 6 February 1918, Page 15

THE ITALIAN FRONT.

Italian official: On the 28th wo stormed a. height east of ■ the Assiago basin and broke through the position at several points, overcoming a stubborn defence, subsequently resisting violent counter-offensives. Wo captured 1500 prisoners. Our artillery co-operated with the Allies in dispersing roinforcements at Monte Campomielo "Valley; Our aircraft are everywhere superior; they brought down 12 machines. Wo captured Colderoso and Coredechele, and withstood numerous counter-attacks. We captured Monte Devalbella, almost completely destroyed 'two enemy divisions, and captured nearly 100 officers and 25C0 men, six guns, 100 machine guns, numerous trench mortars, and several thousand rifles. By a sudden thrust from Monte Devalbella wo reached tho head of Melago Valley, and tho enemy's attempts to dislodge us failed. An Italian semi-official account states: Violent artillery fire preceding the Assiago operation revealed 50 now enemy batteries. Nevertheless, our infantry surprised tho enemy in bright moonlight early on tho morning of the 28th, and wo captured Ohiesa di San Francisco and Col del

SwVte lu b ' a " d fi na Hy regained them after a stupbborn fight. The struggle for Cima d, Valbello fluctuated, but tne posifirm,y in ol,r ha "ds. The C ?,*™S *ho recent French advance at Mount Tomba has greatly improved the line guarding the Venetian Plains »if„ e I m i n iT° kl sports state: The Italians ™ e ' rpW O , brought down 13 aeroplanes on the Trieste front Italian attacks wero broken at Monte Sisemol. A counter-attack regained Monte Divalbella, on which the enemy had secured a foothold. We threw back the enemy at Colderoaso and between the Frenzela and the Brerfta We TyK? 21 A° bombs on Oastlefranco! 26th a £- ¥**** ° n S a^rda y night 26th ult Big fires were observed. Strong Si wT maintained attacks on the Uevalbella and Oblderoso after severe fightDETAILS OF THE VICTORY fr o^+. J "' i A il l r i! Ce W , from the Ita n S;~ A 4 ,?; ho J ur battle ended abruptly in an unqualified Italian victory, and a dangerous salient that, for some time had X n ood ed Th h °- Italian , line entirely nff 9 k 1 J he , euccess of the operations was attributable to careful preparation and to taking the Austnans completely by surprise. When the Italian stormingWm broke through the Austrians, almost panicn P nf a en V l ? ade frantl ,° a PP° als for reinforcements. These were hurried up by all availS s Jf ns - even aerial cable lines were utilised to bring them from adjacent summits But the reinforcements became inextricably mixed in the darkness, and suffered heavily when trying to pass through a W g n, tahan barrage over ground that had foeen carefully registered. The prisoners include a very high percentage

Mr Percival Gibbon writes:—" The Italians are fighting in the heroic style of the leonzo-Carso main attack. The enemy strongly roasted, and terrible hand:to-hand hghting ensued. The enemy artillery woke up vigorously, and 50 unsuspected batteries opened fire against the assaulters. Every yard was hotly contested, and each " advance was followed by a counter-attack."