THE METAL EXCHANGE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 533, 25 October 1915, Page 8

THE METAL EXCHANGE.

TO OPEN NEXT MONTH. MELBOURNE, October 23. Mr Hughes states that the Metal Exchange will be opened on November 8. NURSES FOR EGYPT. 300 FROM NEW SOUTH WALES. SYDNEY, October 23. It is stated that 300 nurses have left New South Wales for the front, and the number will be kept up by quarterly reinforcements of 30. ITALY AT WAR. * RENEWAL OF OFFENSIVE. EXTREMELY FURIOUS FIGHTING I LONDON, October 23. Though the Balkans campaign is holding 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. The communiques of both sides devote most of their attention thereto. It is clear that the fighting is being conducted with the utmost fury, and the official statements emphasise the bloody nature of the struggle. The Austrian communique says: "A general Italian attack in the coastal district began, as expected, after a 50 hours' violent bombardment. Bitter fighting is progressing at the Tolmino bridgehead and on the edge of the Doberdo Plateau. After partial success, all Italian attacks broke down, with heavy losses. Enemy detachments penetrated the Austrian trenches, but not a man survived. When the day closed, the field in front of the Austrian positicjns was covered with Italian dead. There was a particularly bloody struggle at Monte-San Michele. In furious hand-to-hand encounters the enemy's losses were heavy. * The Italian version states :

"Our offensive began successfully in the Tyrol and the Trentino, and extended along the whole front to the sea. Our troops are progressing favourably. After an intense artillery preparation along the whole of the Isonzo front, the Italians attached strong positions, consisting of several lines of trenches, and covered with extensive entanglements. The Italians dashed forward under the concentrated enemy fire of artillery, machine guns, and rifles, and showers of grenades. The attackers carried with the bayonet a number of important positions in the Monte Nero zone, and numerous trenches in the Santa Lucia-Tolmino sector, and at Monte Sabatino, north of Gorizia. We broke the .enemy's lines on the Carso Plateau in several places."

THE LATEST REPORT.

AUSTRIANS LOSE HEAVILY.

ROME, October 23.

An official communique states: "We carried x by assault Mount Notic, westward of Lake Garda, completing our command of the Ledro Valley. "We progressed on the Upper and Middle Isonzo. We repulsed two violent counter-attacks, and progressed, after sanguinary fighting, on the whole front on the Carso Plateau, particularly towards San Martino del Carso. We captured 3000 Austrians, including 60 officers, and a great quantity of munitions." [Mount Notic is close to the town of Pregasina, which was occupied some days ago by the Italians. Pregasina is on the south side of the Ledro, which flows Into Lake Garda, two miles below the Austrian town of Riva, which is at the extreme head of Lake Garda.] DARDANELLES CASUA£TIES. PRIVATE GEORGE WHITEMAN. Private George Whiteman, of the 19th Battalion, Australian Infantry Forces, died of wounds, is a son of Mr F. Whiteman, of Christchurch. Prior to enlisting he was boundary riding 500 miles from Sydney, and on the call of the Commonwealth for bushmen he signed on with the Australian Light Horse. While in camp he had an illness necessitating his removal to hospital and on returning to camp was transferred to the infantry. He was educated at the West Christchurch and Waltham Schools, and was a member of the Albion Football Club.