ITALY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 146002, 7 December 1917, Page 3

ITALY.

SPLENDID ITALIAN RESISTANCE. TO AUSTRIAN ATTACKS. (Received Dec. 7, 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 6. A semi-official report from Rome emphasises the splendid Italian resistance in the mountain fighting. On Tuesday and Wednesday the Austrians lost 50 per cent, of their effectives. Earlier the Austrian guns mere brought up and opened fire with heavy, shells accompanied by a hail of lachrymatory and emetic gas shells. Then the mortars opened gaps in the barbed wire and masses of Austrian infantry advanced. On the Molette line most' of the attackers fell back m disorder under the Italian fire, but the Austrians made a desperate effort at Monte Tendecar and forced a small Italian retirement. t The battle mas continued fiercely ao night, the enemy making numberless attacks without regard to life. Tmo German brigades mere supporting the Austrians and altogether the Italians counted five divisions in ten kilometres of the most difficult mountainous country. THE VATICAN AND RUSSIAN PEACE. ROME. Dec. 5. The Vatican is not assisting and mill not assist a separate peace movement betmoen Russia and the Central Powers. COMPULSORY RATIONING. MACARONI AND RICE. ROME, Dec. 5. Compulsory rationing has been insti-, tuted—three and one-third ounces of macaroni and two and one-third ounces of rice on alternate days; eight ounces of bread for sedentary workers, and thirteen ounces for manual workers.