ITALY'S PART.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 August 1916, Page 5

ITALY'S PART.

DOBERDO PLATEAU OCCUPIED. ENEMY DRIVEN BACK. AIR RAIT>S ON VENICE. Renter Service. Received August 13. (i.30 p.m, Rome, August 12. Official: Wf occupied the whole of the Doberdo plateau and reached the line of Vallonc, eastward of which the enemy was completely routed. He retired after being driven on* of the strongest defence.- on the San Michelc-San Mnrtino sector. Two were killed and some damage was odnc bv the Hostile air raid on Venice, done by th hostile air raid on Venice. Twenty sen, 'anes dropped 3 1 /, tons of bombs on Venice, great damage being caused. Thee were a dozen lives, that of the cotton mills being visible for a distance of twenty miles. A FIERCE BATTLE PROCEEDING. AUSTRIAN'S REINFORCE!) Received August 13, 5.5 p.m. Rome. August u. The battle on the (lurizia se tor is proceeding with uninterrupted fierco.ess. Austrian reinforcements are arriving from the Russian front. It is understood that Turks are largely used to lill the gaps. Our booty and prisoners arc constantly increasing. ITALIAN NEW OFFENSIVE. FALL OF TOLMINO UTMINENT 1 jAt-ceixeu August 13, 5.0 p.m. Rome, August 12. A new Italian offensive has been initiated in the Tolmino sector. It i; believed the fall of Tolmino is imminent. ENTRY INTO GORIZIA. A SANGUINARY STRUGGLE. HOL'SJi xO HOUSE FIGHTING. ! I j Received August 13, 5.5 p.m. Milan. August 12. j There were stirring scenes on Uu- ' Italian entry into Gorizia. tin first parties had dashed across tin. lords, the columns followed in perfect, 'u dei and headed by the troops who bor» tin blunt of tin sanguinary attack <' a nj l 1)1)15. Anstrians ensconced on tin s:nn-1 mits of .Monte Sano and Moide -ai. Gabriele showed no signs of activitj intil the artillery began to cross 'he moment tliev came into the op r _; ,he Austrian guns opened an infernal "A'O. The Italian gunners continued „ ;r----turbed. Meanwhile patrols apprc ed the outskirts of Gorizia. Strong detachments of Austria) (oemen, who were lurking in the 1. es, kept up a strong machine-gun am fire. The Italians surrounded he houses, and, by bombing, reducei stronghold. ' The Italian column*- then entered ;li j town in triumph. _ INHABITANTS IN SORRY PLIGHT. The Austrian commander, Zifller, fore quitting Gorizia, ordered the 11ha'bitants to proceed to Latbach. ut many of those who were attempting to escape were caught in our curtain if fire. There were tragic scenes of women and children rushing terrified across fields and taking refuge in ruined houses and dugouts. They eventually returned to the town and hid in cellars until the j Italians brought deliverance. The Italiar, cavalry shared their food and water j with the starving inhabitants. The Anstrians cut oil' the water supply and light, but the services were quickly reorganised. . ITALIAN ADVANCE CONTINUES. The advance on both banks ( the j Vippaco continues. _ ' Fifty big guns have, so far, iiee. | captured, and huge stores ol material' in excellent condition. Strong forces oi cavalry crossed the river, whilst others are operating in the whole region southwards to Doberdo and Monfalcone A'USTRIANS COMPLETELY SURPRISED. All the evidence confirms the theory that the Austrians were completely surprised at Gorizia. General Cadorna let the Austrians believe his main ellort was still making for the Trentino, and then, if re-attacked at the Isonzo, Gorizia would be the last place to anticipate assault. General Cadorna swiftly and secretly transferred masses of men and artillery to the Isonzo and overwhelmed! the enemy. Our victorious ruse possibly explains the Austrians' silence at Monte Santo, from whence the artillery might at least have made the conquest of Gorizia much more diflicult and costly. The completeness of the surprise is also evidenced by the battlefield and roads being strewn with equipment of every description. THE VALLONE CROSSED. -- NEW POSITIONS TAKEN. .. Received August 13 8.10 p.m. Rome, August 12. A communique states: On the Carso plateau wc crossed the Vallone and carried tUp. western slopes of .Mount Nadlojfern and the summit of Orniliriil. Th* enemy, after receiving reinforcements, continued to hold the liilte east of Sorizia, supported by heavy artillery. We carried new positions at Mount i^'oiiaua.