AUSTRIANS HELD.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1359, 21 June 1918, Page 5

AUSTRIANS HELD.

NO FURTHER GAINS. DEFENDERS CAPTURE GROUND. HEAVY FIGHTING REPORTED. Commissioner) LONDON, June VJ. An Kalian ollicial report states:— On the Monte Grappa and Montello sectors the enemy was completely repulsed. On the Asiago Plateau and at Fossalta we have advanced. Heavy lighting continues, especially on the latter sector. \Ve have captured 1)000 prisoners. HEROIC FIGHTING. (Reuter) LONDON. June 19. Heuter's correspondent at Italian Headquarters states that one of the most successful features of the organisation of the Italian Army consists in the wise distribution of re- ! serves. This is illustrated by a brilliant feat on the British sector. The British defenders of a certain position were ordered to retire with a view to straightening out a salient in their line. A small detachment was left on the crest of a mountain, 3000 feet in height, to cover the withdrawal. The British were almost surrounded, and were out-numbered tenfold, but held the enemy at bay. The commander of a detachment of Alpini decided, on his own initiative, to attempt to rescue the British. The question was whether he could arrive in time to find the defenders alive. The Commander said:—"Men, we would be too late if any but British bulldogs were defending the position, and if any but Alpini chamois were rushing to reach them.'" The Alpini dashed forward, shouting: "Viva Inghilterra." The Austrians were surprised and wavered, whereupon the Commander of the British detachment leaped from a trench, ordered a charge, and forced the Austrians to withdraw. The correspondent, describing the fighting on Saturday, says that the British not merely resisted all Austrian attacks, but counter-attacked so gallantly that they caused an Italian superior officer to remark, "They are slamming the gates of Italy in the face of the invader." A detachment of British cyclists accomplished heroic deeds. Moving along a sunken road they suddenly rode into a vastly superior Austrian contingent barring the way. The Britishers immediately dismounted, fixed bayonets, and charged the Austrians, who simultaneously charged. A terrific fight ensued, which ended in the Austrians discarding their rifles and fleeing. The cyclists pursued them, and took many prisoners. GALLANT DEEDS. (Reuter) LONDON, June 19. Beuter's correspondent at Italian Headquarters gives details of the attack on the British right, which show that in the early morning a mist helped the enemy, who advanced in great strength, carrying ftammenwerfer, after a hfavy bombardment of our front line with gas and our second line with shrapnel. Our machine-gun fire stopped them dead on the left flank, but on the . right they entered 150 yards of our front trenches. The line was gallantly restored in the afternoon by the Yorkshires. The officer commanding advanced to a post, after losing all his men. and succeeded in killing two machine-gun teams. He captured the guns and turned them upon the enemy. At one time the enemy penetrated the battalion headquarters on the right. The commanding officer collected the headquarters personnel, including the cook, and drove the enemy out, taking 20 prisoners, also machine-guns and flammenwerfer.

DISASTER LIKELY. (United) LONDON, June 19. A wireless message from Rome states that the position of the Auswho crossed the Piave is most precarious. They are surrounded by Italians and the swollen river, and are being continuously bombarded by artillery, aeroplanes having destroyed all the bridges. APPALLING LOSSES. (United) LONDON. June 19. The "Daily Mail's" Milan correspondent states that the original Austrian plan was to attack in cooperation with von Below's and von Bothmer's armies, but the Allies* splendid resistance on the West front kept the Germans so busy that they were onlv able to spare a few units for Italy.' One-third of the attacking troops on the Yal Dossa and Monte Tomba remained on the ground, and the Asiago Plateau and the ravine at Monte Grappa are filled with heaps of dead. The carnage at the Piave was horrifying, the current carrying away thousands of corpses and blood-spattered barges. Officers who were taken prisoner admit that their losses at the crossing were appalling. DIRTY METHODS. ('•The Times") LONDON. June 19. Mr Ward Price states that the Austrians are not fighting cleanly. They are using explosive bullets, which make most ghastly wounds, and are disguising soldiers in Italian uniforms and peasants* clothes. Numerous spies, disguised as peasants, have been shot. AUSTRIAN PLIGHT PRECARIOUS. (A. & S.Z.I ROME. Tune 19. The "Mcssagcro" stales that heavy rains during the last few days have rendered the Piave practically uncrossable, and the Austrians are finding it almost impossible to transmit food and other supplies to the troops which crossed the. river. The Austrians* plight is nil the more serious because they brought neither food nor reserves. The enemy is showing manv signs of demoralisation. INTERNAL TROUBLES. (Reuter) HOME. Jul- !9. Several curious happenings are reported behind the Austrian lines, where it is staled llial Czechs and Slovaks are blowing up munition dumps. The ruble news in this issue accrrdited to '•'The Times" lias appeared in thai journal, hut only where expressly stalld is sueh news the editorial opinion of "The Times."